Colin Montgomerie sharing sixth place in Johnnie Walker Classic
STERNE'S SECOND 64 GIVES
HIM ONE-SHOT LEAD FROM
WILSON AFTER ROUND 3
South African Richard Sterne carries a one-stroke lead from Mansfield's Oliver Wilson into Sunday's final round of the Johnnie Walker Classic at Phuket, Thailand after equalling the course record of eight-under-par 64 for the second successive day.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for the 25-year-old from Pretoria, who had packed up his bags a day earlier in anticipation of a quick departure at the halfway stage from the $2.44 million event after he had opened his campaign at Blue Canyon Country Club with a 75.
But another stunning display on a sunny but breezy day propelled Sterne into prime position on 13-under-par 203 and in great position to savour the finest that Johnnie Walker has to offer on Sunday. Oliver Wilson had a third-round 70 for 204.
SOUTH AFRICANS IN FORMIt has been a remarkable turnaround for the 25-year-old from Pretoria, who had packed up his bags a day earlier in anticipation of a quick departure at the halfway stage from the $2.44 million event after he had opened his campaign at Blue Canyon Country Club with a 75.
But another stunning display on a sunny but breezy day propelled Sterne into prime position on 13-under-par 203 and in great position to savour the finest that Johnnie Walker has to offer on Sunday. Oliver Wilson had a third-round 70 for 204.
Three of the leading players in the top five are from South Africa.
Another young Springbok, Anton Haig, a winner on the Asian Tour last year, stayed within striking distance after battling to a 70 to lie two back while New Zealander Richard Lee, who won the Thailand Open at Blue Canyon in 2005, was fourth, four off the pace after a 70.
Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen slipped back to fifth with a disappointing 72, failing to capitalise on a fast start where he shot three consecutive birdies from the second hole.
Asia's challenge in the Johnnie Walker Classic, tri-sanctioned by the Asian, European and Australasian Tours, was in the hands of China's Liang Wen-chong (67) and Chinese Taipei veteran Wang Ter-chang (71), who share sixth place on 209 with, among others, Colin Montgomerie whose third-round 70 included a double bogey 6 at the 16th.
Although Sterne arrived on the holiday isle of Phuket in confident mood following a win and a second place in the final two events on the Southern African Tour, he struggled to piece his game together on Thursday. But like a bolt from out of the blue, Sterne has been bogey free over his last two rounds, snaring another brilliant eight birdies today, highlighted by two bursts of three straight birdies on both nines.
Another young Springbok, Anton Haig, a winner on the Asian Tour last year, stayed within striking distance after battling to a 70 to lie two back while New Zealander Richard Lee, who won the Thailand Open at Blue Canyon in 2005, was fourth, four off the pace after a 70.
Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen slipped back to fifth with a disappointing 72, failing to capitalise on a fast start where he shot three consecutive birdies from the second hole.
Asia's challenge in the Johnnie Walker Classic, tri-sanctioned by the Asian, European and Australasian Tours, was in the hands of China's Liang Wen-chong (67) and Chinese Taipei veteran Wang Ter-chang (71), who share sixth place on 209 with, among others, Colin Montgomerie whose third-round 70 included a double bogey 6 at the 16th.
Although Sterne arrived on the holiday isle of Phuket in confident mood following a win and a second place in the final two events on the Southern African Tour, he struggled to piece his game together on Thursday. But like a bolt from out of the blue, Sterne has been bogey free over his last two rounds, snaring another brilliant eight birdies today, highlighted by two bursts of three straight birdies on both nines.
READY FOR EARLY FLIGHT
"After shooting three-over, I'd actually brought my bags to the golf course on Friday because the flight was at 8pm as I wouldn't have to make it going back to the hotel. A bit of a change around, but I have played good golf and I made good putts and that sort of makes a big difference," said Sterne.
"After winning and finishing second at the Vodacom Championship and Telkom PGA Championship (this month), my confidence was high. Thursday, things just didn't go my way. Last two days, they have. So no bogeys, I think 16 birdies, just sort of ended up nicely."
With golf being such as fickle game as he would attest to, Sterne, who won the 2004 Madrid Open for his lone European Tour success, knows he must hold up to the challenges from the chasing pack.
"After shooting three-over, I'd actually brought my bags to the golf course on Friday because the flight was at 8pm as I wouldn't have to make it going back to the hotel. A bit of a change around, but I have played good golf and I made good putts and that sort of makes a big difference," said Sterne.
"After winning and finishing second at the Vodacom Championship and Telkom PGA Championship (this month), my confidence was high. Thursday, things just didn't go my way. Last two days, they have. So no bogeys, I think 16 birdies, just sort of ended up nicely."
With golf being such as fickle game as he would attest to, Sterne, who won the 2004 Madrid Open for his lone European Tour success, knows he must hold up to the challenges from the chasing pack.
"I'm quite excited. You know, anything can happen. You can go out there and shoot another 64; you can go out there and shoot 74. I don't get my hopes up too much. This game can change around very quickly," said Sterne.
Former US college circuit player Wilson, chasing his first professional victory after an impressive amateur career, had the tournament firmly in his grip with an outward 33, leading by three at one stage, before slipping back. He was lucky to survive a bogey on the demanding 221-yard 17th, where he sprayed his four iron tee shot which ended next to a drink's can.
"It's a shame to hit a bad shot, but the way I finished it was nice to make a go out there with 4(bogey)," said Wilson. "I really struggled on the back nine with my concentration. I hit some good shots, but I was really, really struggling to keep concentration. I just couldn't see a shot going into 17," said the 26-year-old.
Former US college circuit player Wilson, chasing his first professional victory after an impressive amateur career, had the tournament firmly in his grip with an outward 33, leading by three at one stage, before slipping back. He was lucky to survive a bogey on the demanding 221-yard 17th, where he sprayed his four iron tee shot which ended next to a drink's can.
"It's a shame to hit a bad shot, but the way I finished it was nice to make a go out there with 4(bogey)," said Wilson. "I really struggled on the back nine with my concentration. I hit some good shots, but I was really, really struggling to keep concentration. I just couldn't see a shot going into 17," said the 26-year-old.
Stephen Gallacher had a bogey-free 68 to be one behind Colin Montgomerie on 210, the same mark as Ernie Els.
Marc Warren is sharing 18th place on 211 after a 71 in which he was two-over-par for his last 10 holes, none of which he birdied.
Alastair Forsyth had an eagle 2 at the 16th in an inward 34 for a 69 and 213, the same score as Adam Scott.
Gary Orr ran up a double-bogey 5 at the short seventh in his 74 for 215.
Andrew Coltart had an uninspired 74 for 218 while Barry Hume lost his way metaphorically on the inward half which he covered in 44 shots for a 79 and a share of 73rd place on 221. The former Scottish amateur champion had only one par, at the 17th, after the turn. He bogeyed the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th; double-boged the short 14th, birdied the 15th, double-bogeyed the par-4 16th, parred the 17th and then bogeyed the 18th.
HAPPY HUNTING GROUND
New Zealander Richard Lee, lying fourth on 207, continued to relish his return to Blue Canyon, the venue which saw him produce his only Asian Tour victory to date. A birdie on 18 from 10 feet edged him closer to the lead and raised hopes of winning the Johnnie Walker Classic, whose past winners include the stellar names including Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Ernie Els.
"I'm sure I'll be a bit nervous tomorrow as I've not been in that position for a while. I'm relishing this, I'm enjoying this. Hopefully the good form will continue," said the Kiwi. "I've been getting lots of text messages, a few calls, from back home. My wife just says 'Keep it going.' She's Japanese and her family in Japan have been following the internet, my mum too. Everyone's happy. I'm sure they'll be watching."
THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
203 - Richard Sterne (SAf) 75-64-64
204 - Oliver Wilson (Eng) 68-66-70
205 - Anton Haig (SAf) 71-64-70
207 - Richard Lee (NZ) 67-70-70
208 - Retief Goosen (SAf) 68-68-72
209 - Wang Ter-chang (Tpe) 68-70-71, Graeme Storm (Eng) 66-73-70, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 69-70-70 (35-35), Liang Wen-chong (Chi) 72-70-67, Aron Price (Aus) 74-68-67.
210 - James Nitties (Aus) 69-67-74, Richard Bland (Eng) 68-70-72, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 67-72-71, Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 66-76-68 (35-33), Ernie Els (SAf) 73-70-67, Phillip Archer (Eng) 74-69-67, Simon Hurd (Eng) 73-71-66.
211 - David Frost (SAf) 69-70-72, Marc Warren (Sco) 68-72-71 (34-37), Scott Strange (Aus) 73-69-69
212 - Kim Felton (Aus) 70-68-74, Keith Horne (SAf) 68-71-73, Chris Rodgers (Eng) 71-70-71, Matthew Millar (Aus) 71-70-71, Jean Van De Velde (Fra) 72-69-71, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 72-69-71, Iain Steel (Mas) 69-73-70, Damien McGrane (Ire) 71-72-69, Mike Weir (Can) 66-78-68.
New Zealander Richard Lee, lying fourth on 207, continued to relish his return to Blue Canyon, the venue which saw him produce his only Asian Tour victory to date. A birdie on 18 from 10 feet edged him closer to the lead and raised hopes of winning the Johnnie Walker Classic, whose past winners include the stellar names including Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Ernie Els.
"I'm sure I'll be a bit nervous tomorrow as I've not been in that position for a while. I'm relishing this, I'm enjoying this. Hopefully the good form will continue," said the Kiwi. "I've been getting lots of text messages, a few calls, from back home. My wife just says 'Keep it going.' She's Japanese and her family in Japan have been following the internet, my mum too. Everyone's happy. I'm sure they'll be watching."
THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
203 - Richard Sterne (SAf) 75-64-64
204 - Oliver Wilson (Eng) 68-66-70
205 - Anton Haig (SAf) 71-64-70
207 - Richard Lee (NZ) 67-70-70
208 - Retief Goosen (SAf) 68-68-72
209 - Wang Ter-chang (Tpe) 68-70-71, Graeme Storm (Eng) 66-73-70, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 69-70-70 (35-35), Liang Wen-chong (Chi) 72-70-67, Aron Price (Aus) 74-68-67.
210 - James Nitties (Aus) 69-67-74, Richard Bland (Eng) 68-70-72, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 67-72-71, Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 66-76-68 (35-33), Ernie Els (SAf) 73-70-67, Phillip Archer (Eng) 74-69-67, Simon Hurd (Eng) 73-71-66.
211 - David Frost (SAf) 69-70-72, Marc Warren (Sco) 68-72-71 (34-37), Scott Strange (Aus) 73-69-69
212 - Kim Felton (Aus) 70-68-74, Keith Horne (SAf) 68-71-73, Chris Rodgers (Eng) 71-70-71, Matthew Millar (Aus) 71-70-71, Jean Van De Velde (Fra) 72-69-71, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 72-69-71, Iain Steel (Mas) 69-73-70, Damien McGrane (Ire) 71-72-69, Mike Weir (Can) 66-78-68.
Other scores included:
213 Alastair Forsyth (Sco) 74 70 69 (35-34), Adam Scott (Aus) 74 69 70, G McDowell (NIr) 67 76 70, Garry Houston (Wal) 72 68 73, Brad Kennedy (Aus) 65 77 71.
215 David Lynn (Eng) 73 69 73, Gary Orr (Sco) 73 68 74 (38-36).
218 Andrew Coltart (Sco) 72 72 74 (36-38).
221 Barry Hume (Sco) 68 74 79 (35-44).
For more information, log on to: http://www.asiantour.com/livescoring.htm?id=149
For more information, log on to: http://www.asiantour.com/livescoring.htm?id=149
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, March 03, 2007
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