POULTER LOSES LEAD TO OGILVY'S 63 (-8) IN AUSSIE MASTERS R3
Ian Poulter has lost the lead to Geoff Ogilvy after three rounds of the Australia Masters at Victoria. Ogilvy shot a 63 for a 54-hole tally of 200 - two shots ahead of Poulter who had a 69 for 202.
World No 1 Luke Donald is back in a share of 19th place on 208 after a 69 today.
FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
By Angus Morgan at Victoria Golf Club, Sportal
Local favourite Geoff Ogilvy sits in pole position with 18 holes to play at the JBWere Australian Masters after firing a sizzling third-round eight-under 63 at Victoria Golf Club.
At 13-under Ogilvy, pictured right, leads by two from overnight leader Englishman Ian Poulter who struggled for rhythm in his round of 69.
In third place at nine-under are Nathan Green (67) and Ashley Hall (68), two shots clear of a group of five including Greg Chalmers (67) whose bid for the Triple Crown of Australian Open, PGA and Masters wins in the one season remains very much alive.
Ogilvy's round, which included nine birdies and an eagle, matches John Wade's course record that's stood for the past eight years.
"I think I left a few shots out there weirdly enough, but I think I stole a couple as well, so it all balances out," said Ogilvy.
Four shots adrift of Poulter at the start of the day, it took Ogilvy just three holes to erase the deficit.
An eagle at the short 233-metre par-four first, set up by a laser-guided tee shot that settled four feet from the hole, got him going.
He followed up with a long-iron approach to a metre for birdie at two before draining a monster 15-metre birdie putt at the next.
Ogilvy was on a roll and nothing, it seemed, was going to get in his way.
Decked out in white to promote awareness and research into ovarian cancer, Poulter did his best to respond.
He started with back to back birdies as if to remind Ogilvy just how much he enjoys a scrap.
But the local hero came again and Poulter, despite his best efforts, simply couldn't keep pace.
Stung by a bogey at the 398-metre par-four fifth, Ogilvy proceeded to put some serious space between himself and the field by reeling off birdies at four of the next five holes.
His method was identical each time - split the fairway, knock it close, tap it in.
Out in 29 and with the comparatively friendlier back nine to come, the 34-year-old was entitled to contemplate a score starting with a five.
That prospect firmed when he nonchalantly pitched in from 40 metres for birdie at the 400-metre par-four 12th to move to eight under for his round and minus 13 overall which extended his break on the field to four shots.
Ogilvy's dream run ended with a bogey at the 392-metre par-four 13th, the hardest hole on the course, but a birdie at the last made for a very satisfying afternoon's work.
"To start eagle, birdie, birdie you're usually going to have a pretty good day after you do that which is a bonus," Ogilvy said.
"Playing a thousand rounds on this course I've probably only made three or four twos on the first, or maybe five, but not many, so to start a round like that was pretty good."
"After that every time I had a wedge in my hands on the fairway I hit it pretty close."
"All in all ... I'm pretty happy."
Poulter said he was confounded by the breeze from the northeast which was a 180 degree turnaround from Thursday and Friday.
"Hats off to Geoff for going out and scoring eight-under-par in that wind today, it's a great score," said Poulter.
"When someone posts a course record on you on Saturday then generally they move forward."
"Geoff's done that and I'll be chasing him down tomorrow."
World No.1 Luke Donald returned a 69 to sit at minus five, eight shots off the pace, while Robert Allenby fired a 67 to move to three-under.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Players from Australia unless stated otherwise
Par 213 (3x71)
200 Geoff Ogilvy 71 66 63.
202 Ian Poulter (England) 65 68 69.
204 Ashley Hall 66 70 68, Nathan Green 69 68 67.
SELECTED SCORE
208 Luke Donald (England) 69 70 69 (T19).
TO VIEW ALL THE THIRD-ROUND SCORES
CLICK HERE
World No 1 Luke Donald is back in a share of 19th place on 208 after a 69 today.
FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
By Angus Morgan at Victoria Golf Club, Sportal
At 13-under Ogilvy, pictured right, leads by two from overnight leader Englishman Ian Poulter who struggled for rhythm in his round of 69.
In third place at nine-under are Nathan Green (67) and Ashley Hall (68), two shots clear of a group of five including Greg Chalmers (67) whose bid for the Triple Crown of Australian Open, PGA and Masters wins in the one season remains very much alive.
Ogilvy's round, which included nine birdies and an eagle, matches John Wade's course record that's stood for the past eight years.
"I think I left a few shots out there weirdly enough, but I think I stole a couple as well, so it all balances out," said Ogilvy.
Four shots adrift of Poulter at the start of the day, it took Ogilvy just three holes to erase the deficit.
An eagle at the short 233-metre par-four first, set up by a laser-guided tee shot that settled four feet from the hole, got him going.
He followed up with a long-iron approach to a metre for birdie at two before draining a monster 15-metre birdie putt at the next.
Ogilvy was on a roll and nothing, it seemed, was going to get in his way.
Decked out in white to promote awareness and research into ovarian cancer, Poulter did his best to respond.
He started with back to back birdies as if to remind Ogilvy just how much he enjoys a scrap.
But the local hero came again and Poulter, despite his best efforts, simply couldn't keep pace.
Stung by a bogey at the 398-metre par-four fifth, Ogilvy proceeded to put some serious space between himself and the field by reeling off birdies at four of the next five holes.
His method was identical each time - split the fairway, knock it close, tap it in.
Out in 29 and with the comparatively friendlier back nine to come, the 34-year-old was entitled to contemplate a score starting with a five.
That prospect firmed when he nonchalantly pitched in from 40 metres for birdie at the 400-metre par-four 12th to move to eight under for his round and minus 13 overall which extended his break on the field to four shots.
Ogilvy's dream run ended with a bogey at the 392-metre par-four 13th, the hardest hole on the course, but a birdie at the last made for a very satisfying afternoon's work.
"To start eagle, birdie, birdie you're usually going to have a pretty good day after you do that which is a bonus," Ogilvy said.
"Playing a thousand rounds on this course I've probably only made three or four twos on the first, or maybe five, but not many, so to start a round like that was pretty good."
"After that every time I had a wedge in my hands on the fairway I hit it pretty close."
"All in all ... I'm pretty happy."
Poulter said he was confounded by the breeze from the northeast which was a 180 degree turnaround from Thursday and Friday.
"Hats off to Geoff for going out and scoring eight-under-par in that wind today, it's a great score," said Poulter.
"When someone posts a course record on you on Saturday then generally they move forward."
"Geoff's done that and I'll be chasing him down tomorrow."
World No.1 Luke Donald returned a 69 to sit at minus five, eight shots off the pace, while Robert Allenby fired a 67 to move to three-under.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Players from Australia unless stated otherwise
Par 213 (3x71)
200 Geoff Ogilvy 71 66 63.
202 Ian Poulter (England) 65 68 69.
204 Ashley Hall 66 70 68, Nathan Green 69 68 67.
SELECTED SCORE
208 Luke Donald (England) 69 70 69 (T19).
TO VIEW ALL THE THIRD-ROUND SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: PRO GOLF
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, December 17, 2011
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