Chopra leads the MasterCard Masters

MELBOURNE, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Daniel Chopra took a one-stoke lead Saturday through 54 holes of the European Tour's MasterCard Masters Golf Tournament in Melbourne.

In the third round, the native of Sweden shot 7-under-par 65 and has a three-round total of 12-under 204.

"I kept making putts. Every time I had an opportunity to make a birdie I made it," Chopra admitted. "It was just one of those days. Everything was going my way."

He started the round tied for third place, four shots off the lead. He made five birdies in a seven-hole stretch from the fourth to get to 10 under par.

Australians Kurt Barnes (65) and Aaron Baddeley (69) share second place at 11-under 205.

Second-round leader Robert Allenby (73) was within four shots of the lead at 8-under 208, joining fellow Aussie Stuart Appleby (68) and England's Richard Finch (67).

In all, 23 players are within eight shots of Chopra, 19 of them from Australia.