Taking full advantage of the benign weather conditions that greeted the field for the third round, the trio scored in the mid-60s to race up the leaderboard. But by days end their valiant efforts still left them 10 and 11 strokes behind leader Jordan Spieth.

Hend and Leishman were the fifth pairing out on course after just making the cut on five over. Hend started nervously with bogies at the opening two holes but squared the ledger with birdies at the 5th and 9th holes.

The 43-year-old Queenslander really tore into the back nine making five consecutive birdies from the 13th hole before signing for a five under 65, which saw him jump 43 places on the leaderboard and has a share of 18th at even par heading into the final round.

Hend, who is ranked No.106 in the world, needs to keep moving up the leaderboard on the final day to improve his chances of getting a start in the US PGA Championship next month.

“I think the cutoff for the PGA may be after this weekend,” Hend said.

“I'm like 106 in the world right now and I'm pretty sure that, nobody knows the exact number that's going to get in, but I'd rather be sitting well inside that (top-100), and getting an opportunity to play in Quail Hollow, which is one of my favourite courses in the US. So I really want to go play there.”

Marc Leishman had a four under 66 in the third round. PHOTO: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.

Also in the back of his mind is earning enough ranking points here at Birkdale, and at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship over the next month, to push his claims for a spot in the International team for the Presidents Cup at the end of September.

“The Presidents Cup has been in the back of my mind, yeah,” Hend said. “The last Presidents Cup I thought I was one win away from possibly getting a position in the team.

“But I think I need to do something drastically outrageous, like shoot 61 tomorrow and win this tournament or play great in the Bridgestone coming up. It's going to have to be something ridiculous for me to get a pick in the team. But I know it's a possibility.”

Playing partner Leishman had two birdies and two bogies of his own on the outward nine, but he also caught fire with the putter over the closing stages, making birdies at the 14th and 16th as well as a spectacular eagle at the par-5 17th hole when he crushed a 259-metre 2-iron into four feet from the hole and made the putt.

RIGHT: Jason Day watches a putt on the 5th hole. PHOTO: Getty Images.

The Victorian moved up 32 places on the leaderboard and is one over after 54 holes and tied 29th.

Former World No.1 Day was three groups behind his fellow Aussies and was in fine form as he pieced together a bogey-free five under 65, which has him tied 18th at even par.

While there were still some errant shots during Day’s round, he never appeared stressed and seemed more at ease with his game, which was in stark contrast to his second round when he dropped five shots in the final three holes to only just make the cut. That finish saw him storm from the course angry at, perhaps, missing his third cut in a row.

“I was angry at thinking I'm missing the cut,” Day said. “It was more so I was angry with I was even par with three holes to go. And I came home in a coffin.

FINAL ROUND TEE TIMES

“I was quiet in the car. Then I watched a movie. And then I ate some food and then I went and got some ice cream. And after I ate some ice cream, I became a lot happier.

“Sometimes we get in a position that makes us very angry and I'm thinking I'm missing the cut because of my poor play coming in, and fortunately I'm here today and talking to you guys after a good round.”

Day’s 65 was his lowest round since he shot a 63 in the third round of the AT&T Byron Nelson in May, when he went on to finish runner-up behind Billy Horschel.

Adam Scott hits a pitch shot into the 17th green. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Queenslanders Andrew Dodt (69) and Adam Scott (70) are three over and tied for 43rd. Dodt opened his round with a bogey but made the first eagle of day three when he drove the green on the short par-4 5th hole and made his putt. He followed up with a birdie at the par-3 7th but back-to-back bogies at 9 and 10 out the hand brakes on his charge.

Scott will again rue missed opportunities on such a good scoring day. He rattled off 10 straight pars to open his round, before getting his first birdie of the round at the 11th hole. He gave that shot back on the 16th and signed for an even par round.

Aaron Baddeley was one of 15 players who failed to shoot par or better in the third round. He never really recovered from three front nine bogies and finished with a two over 72 to be seven over and tied 75th.