The National Times - Burns and Spaun share US Open lead through nine holes of third round

Burns began the round with the lead on three-under with Spaun one adrift at punishing Oakmont.

They spent the first five holes fighting for the lead, then each parred the four straight.

Spaun opened with a birdie putt from just outside 15 feet to match Burns for the lead, then Burns made bogey at the second after his tee shot found a right-side bunker.

Spaun found the left rough with his first two shots at the third on the way to a bogey that left them tied at two-under, only to reclaim the lead on the par-five fourth with a birdie putt from just inside five feet.

Burns reclaimed a share of the lead when he landed his approach inside three feet and tapped in for birdie to leave them level on three-under.

Mexico's Carlos Ortiz shared third on one-under and was working on a bogey-free round after birdies at the par-five fourth and par-three sixth from just inside eight and six feet respectively.

He then birdied the par-five 12th, dropping his third shot inches from the hole, and par-four 14th, sinking a putt from just inside six feet.

With him was Norway's Viktor Hovland, who made bogeys on two of the first three holes but birdied the ninth and 10th.

Australian Adam Scott was fifth on level par.

E.Cox--TNT