New Zealander Kazuma Kobori is already the hottest player on tour and the Kiwi jumped out of the pack at the Webex Players Series Victoria in Rosebud today to give himself a chance of consecutive tournament wins.

The 22-year-old from Christchurch playing his first season as a professional, will take a one-shot lead into the final round on Sunday after bursting into the lead on the back nine on Saturday.

His 6-under 65 in today’s third round puts him at 16-under overall and into the final group with 49-year-old Australian veteran Mathew Goggin, who relived former glories with a 65 to reach 15-under.

Malaysia’s Ashley Lau, who set a new women’s composite course record with a remarkable 61 with 10 birdies today, is next best at 14-under on a highly eclectic leaderboard.

The 40 km/h gusts scarcely bothered Lai, the 23-year-old from Sarawak in Malaysia who has spent time in the US college system.

She turned in 29 and then birdied the last three holes for a new composite course record for women, the low round of a career that rolled along in 2023 on the Epson Tour in America.

“I hit a terrible drive on the first hole, then I chipped in on No. 1 and No. 2, so I thought, ‘oh well’,” the Malaysian said afterward. “I tried to take it a shot at a time which is always my game plan, and it seemed to work.”

But Kobori, winner of the event at Cobram Barooga last week, looks the man to beat.

His game mimics Australian Cameron Smith in the sense that he does not overpower courses but brings them to their knees with his beautiful hands.

His putting is world class, as he crowd at Rosebud witnessed as he rolled a string of birdie putts into the hole in the afternoon.

He had eight birdies, putting just one damper on his day with a bogey from behind the green at the 18^th.

Afterward he paid tribute to his caddie for the weekend, Japanese professional Ren Yonazawa. “He gave me some great reads.”

But Kobori’s prowess with the short stick is well known already and does not require outside help.

If he wins on Sunday, he will jump to second on the Challenger PGA Tour Order of Merit and effectively, with Min Woo Lee not eligible, he would be first and in position to claim a DP World Tour card for next season.

It was another windy day on the Mornington Peninsula, but players found a way to post scores, starting with Lau’s 10-under.

Kobori said he was hitting 8-irons 100 metres at times, working the mantra: “Take more club and hit it soft. If you get it spinning and up in the air, you’re waiting on luck.”

Overnight leader Kristalle Blum dropped two shots on the day but remains in the mix at 11-under with James Marchesani and Justin Warren.

Sunday’s final round is broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo Sports from 2pm.

Entry is free.