AUSSIE KENNEDY THREE SHOTS CLEAR IN NEW ZEALAND OPEN
DOUBLE BOGEY AT 14TH KNOCKS JAMES BYRNE BACK
A double bogey 7 at the 14th prevented James Byrne from recording his second sub-par round in the New Zealand Open. The only European player in the field, he finished the third round with a one-over 73 which might well have been 70 or under with a bit of luck.
The Banchory rookie pro had birdies at the short fourth, the long fifth, the long 120th and the 12th. But he had bogeys at the third, sixth, short 11th and that 7 at the long 14th.
He has scored 78-70-73 and is T34 on 221, 14 shots behind Australian leader Brad Kennedy
FROM THE NEW ZEALAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE
Brad Kennedy arrived at Clearwater as the highest ranked player and his quality came to the fore in the third round of the BMW New Zealand Open in Christchurch.
The Queensland professional, who is ranked 228 in the world, carded a four under 68 which included one of the shots of the tournament to establish a three-shot lead over local hope Josh Geary.
Kennedy was already in control when he arrived at the par four 15th but added the exclamation mark to his round when he holed his approach shot from 94m for eagle to extend his lead to five shots.
The Aussie had bolted to 11 under par for the tournament and he became the outright favourite to win the 93rd championship of the New Zealand Open.
Geary bounced back with a birdie on the 16th and Kennedy missed short putts on the final two holes to reduce his lead to three to set up a tense final day.
The 37-year-old has had a fine season on the Japan Golf Tour in 2011 – where managed three top five finishes including a runner up – and hopes to finish the year on a high tomorrow.
“Any tournament win would be great, “ said Kennedy.
“To win a national open of anyone’s country would be pretty special. I have not had much of a chance to win the Australian open but to win a national open. There are a lot of great names on that trophy. It would be my second
tour victory in a couple of years. I will be out there trying to fight tomorrow.”
Kennedy admitted that it had been awhile since he was in the position of leader heading into the final round.
“Most of my best finishes in Japan this year have come from the back in the final round. If I think about whether I have a four shot lead or a five shot lead or whether I am one behind or two behind - if I don’t go and set what I have to do tomorrow I will just let everyone back in. I need to keep attacking.”
Geary is outright second on six under and the only kiwi player inside the top nine.
Western Australian Terry Pilkadaris in third place after a three under par 69 saw him climb within four shots of Kennedy.
Early on the leader enjoyed a golden run through the toughest holes on the course into the north-easterly winds when he moved from five under par at the fifth to nine under par at the 10th.
It was a decisive move as at the same time his playing partner Geary fought hard to stay in touch.
He hit his tee shot into the water on the ninth to drop a shot but otherwise scrambled well to save par when his shot making wasn’t at its best.
However it was on the middle of the back nine where the Nationwide Tour player believed Kennedy earned his lead.
“I think where it stretched out was in the middle of the back nine,” said the 27-year-old.
“I missed a short putt on the par-5 14th for birdie and the next hole I hit it close and missed it and he made eagle. Basically those were the two holes where it swung around in his favour. But I had some great gutsy saves in the wind and that’s why I am where I am.”
Geary, who headed to the driving range after his round to work on his posture and alignment with coach James Kupa, is mindful of the pressure being the only Kiwi in contention.
“For sure there’s pressure on tomorrow,” he said. “I can’t think about that. I have to go out and do my own thing and hopefully have a chance on the last few holes. I need to plod away and make a few good scores in the first few holes and give myself a chance in the last few holes. It’s all I can ask for. The last few holes provide potentially some good swings too.”
The 2002 champion Craig Parry, who many expected to make his charge on moving day, had a one over par 73 in round three to drop back to a share of fourth place with Adam Crawford (69) and Rohan Blizard (71).
Australian Andrew Evans had a magical run on the back nine where he made five birdies in succession for a 31 on the back nine to jump into a share of 10th place at one under par.
Hawkes Bay pro Doug Holloway (76) went the other way and 2003 champion Mahal Pearce (73) rallied with a fine birdie on the last to be tied 10th at one under.
Geary is the sole Kiwi contender amongst a pack of Aussies looking to end the eight year drought of a national champion. In his way stands the highest ranked player at the championship who at his best is playing some scintillating golf.
TO VIEW ALL THE THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
CLICK HERE
A double bogey 7 at the 14th prevented James Byrne from recording his second sub-par round in the New Zealand Open. The only European player in the field, he finished the third round with a one-over 73 which might well have been 70 or under with a bit of luck.
The Banchory rookie pro had birdies at the short fourth, the long fifth, the long 120th and the 12th. But he had bogeys at the third, sixth, short 11th and that 7 at the long 14th.
He has scored 78-70-73 and is T34 on 221, 14 shots behind Australian leader Brad Kennedy
FROM THE NEW ZEALAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE
Brad Kennedy arrived at Clearwater as the highest ranked player and his quality came to the fore in the third round of the BMW New Zealand Open in Christchurch.
The Queensland professional, who is ranked 228 in the world, carded a four under 68 which included one of the shots of the tournament to establish a three-shot lead over local hope Josh Geary.
Kennedy was already in control when he arrived at the par four 15th but added the exclamation mark to his round when he holed his approach shot from 94m for eagle to extend his lead to five shots.
The Aussie had bolted to 11 under par for the tournament and he became the outright favourite to win the 93rd championship of the New Zealand Open.
Geary bounced back with a birdie on the 16th and Kennedy missed short putts on the final two holes to reduce his lead to three to set up a tense final day.
The 37-year-old has had a fine season on the Japan Golf Tour in 2011 – where managed three top five finishes including a runner up – and hopes to finish the year on a high tomorrow.
“Any tournament win would be great, “ said Kennedy.
“To win a national open of anyone’s country would be pretty special. I have not had much of a chance to win the Australian open but to win a national open. There are a lot of great names on that trophy. It would be my second
tour victory in a couple of years. I will be out there trying to fight tomorrow.”
Kennedy admitted that it had been awhile since he was in the position of leader heading into the final round.
“Most of my best finishes in Japan this year have come from the back in the final round. If I think about whether I have a four shot lead or a five shot lead or whether I am one behind or two behind - if I don’t go and set what I have to do tomorrow I will just let everyone back in. I need to keep attacking.”
Geary is outright second on six under and the only kiwi player inside the top nine.
Western Australian Terry Pilkadaris in third place after a three under par 69 saw him climb within four shots of Kennedy.
Early on the leader enjoyed a golden run through the toughest holes on the course into the north-easterly winds when he moved from five under par at the fifth to nine under par at the 10th.
It was a decisive move as at the same time his playing partner Geary fought hard to stay in touch.
He hit his tee shot into the water on the ninth to drop a shot but otherwise scrambled well to save par when his shot making wasn’t at its best.
However it was on the middle of the back nine where the Nationwide Tour player believed Kennedy earned his lead.
“I think where it stretched out was in the middle of the back nine,” said the 27-year-old.
“I missed a short putt on the par-5 14th for birdie and the next hole I hit it close and missed it and he made eagle. Basically those were the two holes where it swung around in his favour. But I had some great gutsy saves in the wind and that’s why I am where I am.”
Geary, who headed to the driving range after his round to work on his posture and alignment with coach James Kupa, is mindful of the pressure being the only Kiwi in contention.
“For sure there’s pressure on tomorrow,” he said. “I can’t think about that. I have to go out and do my own thing and hopefully have a chance on the last few holes. I need to plod away and make a few good scores in the first few holes and give myself a chance in the last few holes. It’s all I can ask for. The last few holes provide potentially some good swings too.”
The 2002 champion Craig Parry, who many expected to make his charge on moving day, had a one over par 73 in round three to drop back to a share of fourth place with Adam Crawford (69) and Rohan Blizard (71).
Australian Andrew Evans had a magical run on the back nine where he made five birdies in succession for a 31 on the back nine to jump into a share of 10th place at one under par.
Hawkes Bay pro Doug Holloway (76) went the other way and 2003 champion Mahal Pearce (73) rallied with a fine birdie on the last to be tied 10th at one under.
Geary is the sole Kiwi contender amongst a pack of Aussies looking to end the eight year drought of a national champion. In his way stands the highest ranked player at the championship who at his best is playing some scintillating golf.
TO VIEW ALL THE THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
CLICK HERE
Labels: PRO GOLF
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, December 03, 2011
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