Australian John Senden has pushed into a tie for the lead midway through the third round of the US Open at Merion Golf Club.
The Queenslander is one-under par for the tournament through seven holes in the third round, tied for the lead with 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa on top of the leaderboard.
Senden started the third round two shots off the lead but made up the deficit in his opening two holes with back-to-back birdies.
The 42-year-old bogeyed the sixth hole to drop out of the lead but jumped back into a share a hole later with another birdie.
The pair leads by one over Steve Stricker and Luke Donald.
Jason Day is the next best Australian, currently tied ninth at two-over par for the week through 13 holes in round three.
Senden is looking to continue Australia’s success at the majors in 2013 after Adam Scott won the Masters in April.
Scott is currently at nine-over par for the week.
Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, sits at four over through 11 holes in a tie for 15th while Mat Goggin is a shot further back at five over through nine.
Alistair Presnell rounds out the Australian tilt at 12 over through 10 holes.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are struggling in the third round and are now six-over par through 10 holes.