Updated

Defending champion Ian Poulter shot an 8-under-par 64 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Adam Scott after three rounds of the Australian Masters.

Poulter had five front-nine birdies — four on lengthy putts — and the Englishman had a 54-hole total of 13-under 203 on the Kingston Heath sand-belt course.

Poulter's 9-iron approach on No. 18 nearly holed out from the fairway and he had a tap-in birdie to finish.

Scott, who shot 67, stayed close until consecutive bogeys on 16 and 17. Australian Matthew Guyatt, leader by two strokes after each of the first two rounds, shot 75 Saturday and was six strokes behind in third.