Challenge Tour climax in Italy
Mighty Morgan surges into share of
lead with a 61 in Grand Final
From Paul Symes, Challenge Tour Press Officer
An astonishing round of 10-under-par 61 upgraded John Morgan’s status from also-ran to joint tournament leader with compatriot Richard Bland on 13-under-par 200 after Day 3 of the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.
Morgan, who began the week ranked 27th and therefore outside qualification for The European Tour, reached the turn in just 28 shots after notching six birdies in nine holes at the picturesque San Domenico Golf Resort in Puglia, Italy.
Four more birdies on the back nine moved Morgan – who started the day in a tie for 18th place – to 13 under par, level with Bland, who came home in 32 for a round of 67. Morgan’s round, his lowest in tournament golf, broke the course record and put him within sight of a place in the money-spinning Race to Dubai.
He said: “I just had to get myself back in the game, and I think I’ve done that. It was a crazy round of golf. I missed four putts from around eight feet, so a 59 was definitely there for the taking. You’re not going to believe this, but I had 59 in my head from about the sixth or seventh hole. I just felt it was going to be my day.
“To make ten birdies is pretty special, but to not make any bogeys was just as important. The only time I was in trouble was when I missed the green on the 15th hole, but I sank a cracker of a putt to save par. Then on the next hole I sank another 15 foot putt for birdie, and I just had to laugh.
“It’s a funny old game. I shot 73 yesterday, and then go and better it by 12 shots today. If I can finish it off tomorrow and get my European Tour card, I’ll be the happiest man alive and my family can enjoy a great Christmas. If I don’t, Christmas is cancelled this year!”
Morgan will play in the final group with Bland, whose chances looked to be ebbing away until a birdie at the 11th hole sparked a scoring spree which culminated in an eagle on the 17th.
The 35 year old, whose has wife Caroline was his caddy for the first time, will now seek his second victory after claiming his first at the Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2001.
He said: “I think I’m one over on the front nine and 14 under coming home, so I may just ask if I can start on the tenth tee and just play the back nine twice tomorrow! I wasn’t really hitting it well enough on the front nine which was frustrating, but then I made a good birdie on the 11th and saved par from about seven feet on 12th. After that, I never really looked back.
“Hopefully I can finish it off tomorrow, because I should’ve won at least once this season. Maybe I’ve put too much pressure on myself instead of relaxing and letting it happen. So I’m going to try to not think about it too much, which is easier said than done.
"But it helps that I’ve got my wife here with me this week to take my mind off things, because we’ve not talked about golf once. If I was staying in the players’ hotel all the talk would probably be about who’s doing what and where people might finish in the Rankings, so I’m better off out of it!”
Glasgow's Andrew McArthur is one shot back on 12 under par 201, alongside Argentina’s Estanisloa Goya and Brazilian Alexandre Rocha. McArthur had a two-under-par 69 in his third round, his worst so far, which is an indication of how well he is playing.
Fellow Scots Steven O'Hara, Richie Ramsay and David Drysdale also each shot 69 today to move up the leaderboard but Greig Hutcheon, who led the way with a 65 on the opening day was able only to tread water with a 72 today for 212.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 213 (3 x 71). 7042yd
200 Richard Bland (Eng) 67 66 67, John E Morgan (Eng) 66 73 61.
201 Andrew McArthur (Sco) 67 65 69, Alex Rocha (Braz) 68 65 66, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 66 66 69, Estanislao Goya (Arg) 67 69 65.
Other scores:
207 Steven O'Hara (Sco) 70 68 69 (jt 17th).
210 Richie Ramsay (Sco) 72 69 69 (jt 24th).
211 David Drysdale (Sco) 71 71 69 (jt 30th).
212 Greig Hutcheon (Sco) 65 75 72.
lead with a 61 in Grand Final
From Paul Symes, Challenge Tour Press Officer
An astonishing round of 10-under-par 61 upgraded John Morgan’s status from also-ran to joint tournament leader with compatriot Richard Bland on 13-under-par 200 after Day 3 of the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.
Morgan, who began the week ranked 27th and therefore outside qualification for The European Tour, reached the turn in just 28 shots after notching six birdies in nine holes at the picturesque San Domenico Golf Resort in Puglia, Italy.
Four more birdies on the back nine moved Morgan – who started the day in a tie for 18th place – to 13 under par, level with Bland, who came home in 32 for a round of 67. Morgan’s round, his lowest in tournament golf, broke the course record and put him within sight of a place in the money-spinning Race to Dubai.
He said: “I just had to get myself back in the game, and I think I’ve done that. It was a crazy round of golf. I missed four putts from around eight feet, so a 59 was definitely there for the taking. You’re not going to believe this, but I had 59 in my head from about the sixth or seventh hole. I just felt it was going to be my day.
“To make ten birdies is pretty special, but to not make any bogeys was just as important. The only time I was in trouble was when I missed the green on the 15th hole, but I sank a cracker of a putt to save par. Then on the next hole I sank another 15 foot putt for birdie, and I just had to laugh.
“It’s a funny old game. I shot 73 yesterday, and then go and better it by 12 shots today. If I can finish it off tomorrow and get my European Tour card, I’ll be the happiest man alive and my family can enjoy a great Christmas. If I don’t, Christmas is cancelled this year!”
Morgan will play in the final group with Bland, whose chances looked to be ebbing away until a birdie at the 11th hole sparked a scoring spree which culminated in an eagle on the 17th.
The 35 year old, whose has wife Caroline was his caddy for the first time, will now seek his second victory after claiming his first at the Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2001.
He said: “I think I’m one over on the front nine and 14 under coming home, so I may just ask if I can start on the tenth tee and just play the back nine twice tomorrow! I wasn’t really hitting it well enough on the front nine which was frustrating, but then I made a good birdie on the 11th and saved par from about seven feet on 12th. After that, I never really looked back.
“Hopefully I can finish it off tomorrow, because I should’ve won at least once this season. Maybe I’ve put too much pressure on myself instead of relaxing and letting it happen. So I’m going to try to not think about it too much, which is easier said than done.
"But it helps that I’ve got my wife here with me this week to take my mind off things, because we’ve not talked about golf once. If I was staying in the players’ hotel all the talk would probably be about who’s doing what and where people might finish in the Rankings, so I’m better off out of it!”
Glasgow's Andrew McArthur is one shot back on 12 under par 201, alongside Argentina’s Estanisloa Goya and Brazilian Alexandre Rocha. McArthur had a two-under-par 69 in his third round, his worst so far, which is an indication of how well he is playing.
Fellow Scots Steven O'Hara, Richie Ramsay and David Drysdale also each shot 69 today to move up the leaderboard but Greig Hutcheon, who led the way with a 65 on the opening day was able only to tread water with a 72 today for 212.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 213 (3 x 71). 7042yd
200 Richard Bland (Eng) 67 66 67, John E Morgan (Eng) 66 73 61.
201 Andrew McArthur (Sco) 67 65 69, Alex Rocha (Braz) 68 65 66, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 66 66 69, Estanislao Goya (Arg) 67 69 65.
Other scores:
207 Steven O'Hara (Sco) 70 68 69 (jt 17th).
210 Richie Ramsay (Sco) 72 69 69 (jt 24th).
211 David Drysdale (Sco) 71 71 69 (jt 30th).
212 Greig Hutcheon (Sco) 65 75 72.
Labels: CHALLENGE TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, October 24, 2008
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home