Jones, who contended at the PGA Championship in August, is looking forward to a home-club crowd on Saturday.
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The former world No. 1 felt his tournament slipping away before wowing the big greenside gallery with a spectacular last-hole eagle.
Spieth’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 17 which earned a huge cheer from the Sydney crowd.
Rhein Gibson is five shots behind Jones following his 68.
Spieth is joined in joint third with Nicolas Colsaerts, who had a Friday-best 66, Aron Price, 2006 US Open victor Geoff Ogilvy and first-round leader Lincoln Tinghe, who followed an opening 66 with 73. The course has been tough, with only 18 under par after the first round and 12 after the second.
Australian Open favourite Spieth shot a 67 — the low round of the day — but Jones finished at 10-under par, and in doing so secured a three shot buffer between himself and the 2015 Masters and US Open champion.
Local boy Matt Jones has control at the halfway mark of the Australian Open with defending champion Jordan Spieth’s charge stalling in yesterday’s second round.
“And now I’m well in contention and likely in the last group, whether it’s three or four behind, it’s a lot better than I’d thought it would be after four holes”.
“I was hoping to come out and have a good start but I didn’t”.
“Any time you have a chance to win your own country’s Open, it would be fantastic”.
Daniel Pearce is the best of the Kiwis in a tie for ninth at one-under par overall, despite falling from five-under for the day early in the back nine to shoot a two-under round of 69.
“Matt Jones has played the best golf for three rounds, he’s played better golf than I have and I have to somehow not only play better golf, but play better golf by multiple shots”. “He hits a nice little punch ball draw flight and he’s not letting up”. You might not feel it in some areas where I’ll know it’s going to be there.
“This is one of my top three courses in Australia”. “Much more preferable for me, the faster the greens get, yeah but they were lovely today”. The greens are absolutely flawless.
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“Right now I think the goal is going to be to try and shoot 10 under on the weekend and I think that should be good enough”, said Spieth.
