RUMFORD ROARDS INTO CONTENTION AT PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

REPORT BY EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

A brilliant course record-equalling 65 around Lake Karrinyup Country Club saw home hero Brett Rumford roar into contention at the Perth International.

Rumford, already a two-time winner on The European Tour this season, carded his seven under par effort in the most difficult conditions of the week to charge up the leaderboard into a share of second place, one stroke behind his fellow Western Australian Brody Ninyette heading into the final round. 

Ninyette was another player to shine in the wind and rain as he posted a fine 67 to move to eight under and one clear of Rumford, Denmark’s JB Hansen (66) and South Korean former World Amateur Number One Jin Jeong (69).

But it was Rumford who stole the show on day three in Perth, producing eight birdies and just a single dropped shot to delight the home crowd. 

“It was a tough day,” said Rumford. “It was very blustery. We had some really heavy downpours, which made, at times, made the golf course very, very tough.

“I guess today was just a credit to myself. I feel as though maybe the last two or three years, my maturity in the game and out on the golf course has really stepped up and that showed today. 

“If I were to win here, it would be the crème de la crème - winning in front of your home crowd, there would be nothing better than that, that's for sure.”

Ninyette, meanwhile, is hoping to spoil Rumford’s party to secure what would be a life-changing victory and a two-year exemption on The European Tour.

“Being able to play in Europe next year would be massive,” said the 26 year old. “It would be amazing.  It would be a whole new experience, getting out there and playing over there would be unreal to see how the world's best do it.”

While the battle for the Perth International will take centre stage on Sunday, the fight to see which players can keep their playing rights for 2014 will enter the final round with many of the players in need of a huge finish on the upper echelons of the leaderboard.

Richard Finch and Fredrik Andersson Hed are among those players tied for fifth place on six under (along with Ross Fisher) and need to finish fourth and third respectively to survive, while Joel Sjoholm, who needs second place or better, is just a one stroke further back alongside Tour winners Michael Hoey and Danny Willet.

Despite a disappointing third round 75 which saw him fall back to four under, second round leader Peter Hedblom is not quite dead yet. The Swede, who needs to win to keep his tour card, will need to produce the performance of a lifetime to claim the ultimate prize, while Oliver Fisher, currently tied 17^th on three under needs to finish in the top seven to succeed.

Complete Round three Scores:

 

208 B Ninyette (Aus) 72 69 67

209 J Hansen  (Den) 70 73 66; J Jeong (Kor) 68 72 69; B Rumford (Aus) 71 73 65

210 R Finch  (Eng) 72 69 69; J Scrivener (Aus) 75 67 68; R Fisher (Eng) 72 67 71; F Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 73 68; J Nitties (Aus) 68 73 69

211 M Hoey  (Nir) 73 69 69; D Willett  (Eng) 72 71 68; J Sjöholm (Swe) 71 73 67

212 S Hansen (Den) 71 69 72; D Papadatos (Aus) 69 71 72; P Hedblom (Swe) 68 69 75; B Van Pelt (USA) 70 71 71;

213 M Fraser (Aus) 72 70 71; J Younger (Aus) 70 70 73; N Cullen (Aus) 69 73 71; O Fisher  (Eng) 72 72 69;

214 N O'Hern (Aus) 69 73 72; G Paddison (Nzl) 74 69 71; D McKenzie (Aus) 75 68 71; S Wakefield (Eng) 72 74 68;

215 S Little (Eng) 69 75 71; A Kaleka  (Fra) 74 69 72; C Campbell (Aus) 71 71 73; B Grace  (RSA) 73 73 69; C Rice (Aus) 68 72 75; D Popovic (Aus) 72 74 69; P Lawrie (Irl) 73 70 72; F Zanotti (Par) 75 68 72;

216 P Wilson (Aus) 72 71 73; E Kofstad (Nor) 71 73 72; R Haller (Aus) 72 70 74; M Brown (Nzl) 70 72 74; W Ormsby (Aus) 73 72 71; P Spargo (Aus) 72 71 73; M Korhonen (Fin) 73 71 72; C Lee (Sco) 73 71 72; S Henry  (Sco) 74 72 70; R Blizard (Aus) 70 74 72

217 T Cox (Aus) 75 70 72; S Dartnall (Aus) 74 71 72; J McLean (Aus) 76 68 73; R McGowan  (Eng) 71 72 74; C Doak (Sco) 72 73 72; S Jones (Aus) 74 72 71; A Bland (Aus) 72 72 73; S Kjeldsen (Den) 76 68 73;

218 L McKechnie (Aus) 74 72 72; R Bland (Eng) 75 71 72; J Walters (RSA) 76 69 73; T Bond (Aus) 71 73 74; J Morrison  (Eng) 73 72 73; D Johnson (USA) 69 74 75; D Bransdon (Aus) 71 73 74;

219 R McEvoy  (Eng) 76 70 73; G Havret  (Fra) 73 73 73; D Higgins (Irl) 73 72 74; P Cooke (Aus) 72 73 74;

220 J Wade (Aus) 76 70 74; C Parry (Aus) 72 74 74; S Jeffress (Aus) 76 70 74;

221 A Brown (Aus) 70 75 76; D Drysdale (Sco) 72 74 75; M Tullo (Chi) 75 71 75;

223 B Åkesson (Swe) 69 77 77;

224 N Basic (Aus) 72 74 78;

 

ENDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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