However, Declan O’Donovan and Rachel Lee’s paths to the top of the leaderboards at the end of day three came in vastly contrasting style on a windy afternoon on the Sandbelt.

After being two strokes in front at the halfway mark, Lee built her advantage to five shots at one stage, before Queensland’s Sarah Hammett, spurred on by the disappointment of incurring a two-shot penalty which led to a triple-bogey on the 11th hole, cut the gap to two by the time they walked off the 18th green.

The duo shot rounds of 70 to leave Lee at 13-under and Hammett at -11, six shots ahead of third-placed South Australian Raegan Denton (75).

Meanwhile, O’Donovan (70) emerged from the pack by playing his final six holes in 4-under-par to reach 10-under overall and lead by one over another New South Wales representative, Jye Halls (72).

Queensland’s Harry Takis (73) is third on a congested leaderboard at 8-under.

Sophie Eppelstun in action at Commonwealth on Day three. (PHOTO: Golf Australia / PGA of Australia)

Hammett could even have been in a share of the women’s lead at the end of the day, but for the costly mishap behind the 11th green. After inadvertently causing her ball to move as she prepared to chip, she then failed to replace it to its starting position, incurring a two-shot penalty after consulting a rules official.

The triple-bogey left the 18-year-old from Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast five shots behind and in a foul mood.

It was quickly forgotten, however, when she eagled the par-5 12th thanks to a brilliant seven-iron approach, overruling her caddie, who wanted her to hit a six-iron.

“I only found out that it was a two-shot penalty after hole 12 when I went and spoke to the rules official,” she said.

“Obviously I was a little bit pissed and I was like, ‘I'm making a birdie now, I'm getting back on track.' Making eagle after all that definitely felt good.”

Contending in the national championship is a new experience for Lee, who has a previous best finish of 31st place in the 2022 event at Cranbourne, but did contend early in the 2023 ISPS HANDA Australian Open.

“I was a little nervous,” the 17-year-old said.

“I did know where I was [on the leaderboard], but then I kind of forgot about it after nine because I guess I was just trying to focus more on myself.”

“I’ll just try to do the same thing tomorrow [Friday]. Same routine, same mindset.”

Standing on the 13th tee on a windy afternoon which tested every player, Lee’s clubmate, O'Donovan, was 1-over on his day and admits the frustration was beginning to set in, and indeed almost boilover.

"It was definitely a grind out there," he said. "I couldn't make a putt all day until 13. I had one bogey and 12 pars," he said.

Safely onboard for two on the short par-5 13th, which was also playing down wind today, set O'Donovan on a run home for the ages.

"I made a nice two-putt birdie on 13 and then they just started flowing," he said.

"I hit some really good shots and I honestly played some of my best golf to finish the way I did and I'm very proud of it."

O'Donovan made three more birdies from 14 through 16 to make it four on the trot, and after finding the fairway trap on 18, made a clutch up and down from just short of the putting surface.

- Patrick Taylor