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Herbert in the hunt for second professional title at #NZOpen


Lucas Herbert is within reach of a second professional title in the space of two months after a stunning 6-under par third round at the 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.

The 24-year-old Victorian sits tied for the lead at -15 alongside Korea’s Joohyung Kim with just 18 holes to play at Millbrook Resort following a round of seven birdies and a lone bogey at the challenging par-5 13th.

A lead-securing birdie from Herbert at 17 was quickly matched by Kim on the 18th to tie the lead through 54 holes.

“I started off quite nicely and got that little three-birdie run through the middle and got myself in a nice position but then straight after that I felt like I really battled my golf swing for a few holes and hit some errant ones,” Herbert said.

“To fight back like I did and make some really good swings sort of 15, 16, 17 and even 18 there to hit it in the middle of the green, I was really proud of that because I think we’ve got a bit of work to do on the range to get ready for tomorrow.”

Fuelled by Queenstown’s famous Fergburgers the Bendigo local will draw on the confidence gained following January’s European Tour win when he takes to the first tee at 12:30pm NZT on Sunday.

“Tomorrow is going to be a different story. I don’t think I’ve ever been as ready as I am right now to go and do it. I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“I think that win in Dubai is really going to help me out given I hadn’t done it before. That gives me that confidence that I can get it over the line and beat everyone.

“I’ll just try and channel that tomorrow. Some good positive thoughts from a month ago about that and whatever happens, happens.”

Keenly aware of the talent surrounding the top of the leaderboard, round one and two leader Kim will adopt an aggressive approach as he aims to go low on Sunday.

“I played really well today. I played well off the tee and my approach to the green but I did leave a lot of shots out there on the greens to be honest,” Kim said.

“You can’t have all day that it goes your way. I am still in the hunt. I have myself a really good chance for tomorrow. It’s is going to be fun to be honest.

“Playing with Lucas is going to be really enjoyable. Obviously he is a European Tour winner so it is going to be where ever it goes, whether I win or lose tomorrow I am going to enjoy myself and give it everything.”

With loved ones in town for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament a win close to home would tick yet another career box for Herbert.

“Given that family and friends are all here this week too that would be awesome. My dad hasn’t seen me win yet so that would be pretty cool,” Herbert said.

“To get a win on the Australian Tour, as much as it’s not in Australia it would be good to prove back home that I can play as well as overseas.”

Queensland’s Brad Kennedy remains in the hunt for a second New Zealand Open title following a 5-under 66 third round at Millbrook Resort to sit in outright third place and two shots off the lead.

American Chan Kim and Novocastrian Nick Flanagan are tied three shots back at 12-under the card in fourth place.

The shot of the day, however, came from South Australia’s Wade Ormsby on the 17th when his approach shot found its way into the hole for eagle.

Entry is free for the final round of the 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport which will tee off at Millbrook Resort tomorrow.

Photo: PhotosportNZ


South Korean teenager Joohyung Kim has shown maturity beyond his 17 years as he battled against increasing winds and a challenging The Hills layout to reclaim the lead of the 101st New Zealand Open.

Kim’s overnight benchmark of 7-under, set in round one of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour tournament, was quickly eclipsed by Victorian Ben Eccles who started round two with an eagle in benign morning conditions.

Steady play and a 4-under round featuring five birdies and a lone bogey was all it took for Kim to return to the lead at 11-under.

“I played really well. With the tough conditions today it wasn’t very easy,” Kim said.

“We got three, four club winds, swirling every single time so it was tough but I managed myself really well and I hope to keep going through the weekend.

“If I can do what I did for the past two days, then I will be fine. Putting the ball in play, not giving myself too much nerves, that will be the key.”

As play returns to Millbrook Resort for the final two rounds Kim will lean on advice passed on from the game’s best as he aims to improve even further.

“I’ve been working really hard and it’s nice that the scores are as good as how much I work,” he said.

“I’m just trying to learn. I’m very fortunate that the guys, the veterans have been really nice to me and tell me how to play golf, how the best play so I think that really helps.”

Eccles’ hot start was the key to a consistent round that saw the 25-year-old end the day in outright second place as he chases a second ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia title.

“Yesterday I played awesome; in those conditions as well it just all came together. This morning I got off to a fast start – eagle, birdie, birdie. It awesome, it’s an amazing feeling and hopefully I can keep going,” said the 2015 NSW Open champion.

“The rough is up this year, which is going to make it interesting over the weekend. You’ve really got to take advantage of the par 5s, that’s something that I’ve done the last couple of days – a couple of eagles and a couple of birdies.

“I just wanted to keep enjoying it, that’s been the main thing for me this week. The last couple of years I haven’t enjoyed it a hell of a lot out in Europe, a bit of a mindset shift in the last few months has been where I think this golf has come from.”

A missing suitcase and ill-fitting borrowed clothes were quickly out of mind for Lucas Herbert when he took to The Hills on Friday morning.

Light winds made for kind scoring conditions and Herbert capitalised on the back-nine. A -4 round took the Bendigo local to a score of 9-under and a share of third place alongside Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

“I think my suitcase is just flying in at the moment. It will be good to get back into some familiar clothes tomorrow,” Herbert laughed.

“I had to wear some wet weather pants today because I think my pants are about that far too short so it’s been an interesting one.”

Despite winning his first professional tournament at the European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January this year Herbert shied away from suggestions he would be a threat on the leaderboard come moving day.

“Ben Eccles has won a Professional event as well so I don’t know that it’s going to be that much of an intimidation factor. Hopefully I can just go out there and play some good golf and sort of let that speak for itself,” he said.

Kieran Muir is the top Kiwi on the leaderboard following a blistering 65 on the Millbrook course.

Sitting alone in fifth place at 8-under the card, Muir leads a logjam of Australasian golf’s biggest names tied for sixth including Michael Hendry, Wade Ormsby, Brad Kennedy and Nick Flanagan.

Seventy-seven Professionals will progress to the weekend after the second-round cut was made at 60 players plus ties. Forty amateurs will also tee it up in the pro-am format from Saturday.

Photo: Photosport NZ


An early eagle has put Victorian Ben Eccles in the lead of the 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport following what was a perfect start to round two at The Hills.

Birdies at the second and third holes kept the momentum rolling for a three-hole score of 4-under the card, a total he maintained for a 36-hole sum of 10-under.

“Yesterday I played awesome, in those conditions as well it just all came together. This morning I got off to a fast start – eagle, birdie, birdie. It awesome, it’s an amazing feeling and hopefully I can keep going,” Eccles said.

“The rough is up this year, which is going to make it interesting over the weekend. You’ve really got to take advantage of the par 5s, that’s something that I’ve done the last couple of days – a couple of eagles and a couple of birdies.

“I just wanted to keep enjoying it, that’s been the main thing for me this week. The last couple of years I haven’t enjoyed it a hell of a lot out in Europe, a bit of a mindset shift in the last few months has been where I think this golf has come from.”

The 25-year-old started the week as a reserve in the field for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament but a late call up on Wednesday morning cut holiday plans short.

“I earned my Asian Tour card last week and we thought we’d travel anyway, but we got the call on Wednesday morning saying I was in,” he said.

“I think I was fourth reserve on the Australian Tour side. We were going to have a two week holiday regardless of what happened so it’s just a bonus to be playing.”

A missing suitcase and ill-fitting borrowed clothes were quickly put out of mind by Lucas Herbert when he took to The Hills on Friday morning.

Light winds made for kind scoring conditions and Herbert capitalised on the back-nine. A -4 round took the Bendigo local to a score of 9-under and a share of second place alongside Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

“I think my suitcase is just flying in at the moment. It will be good to get back into some familiar clothes tomorrow,” Herbert laughed.

“I had to wear some wet weather pants today because I think my pants are about that far too short so it’s been an interesting one.”

Despite winning his first professional tournament at the European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January this year Herbert shied away from suggestions he would be a threat on the leaderboard when play moves to Millbrook Resort from Saturday.

“Ben Eccles has won a Professional event as well so I don’t know that it’s going to be that much of an intimidation factor. Hopefully I can just go out there and play some good golf and sort of let that speak for itself,” he said.

Kiwi Kieran Muir made the most of still but rainy conditions at Millbrook Resort early in round two to move within reach of the lead at 8-under.

Overnight leader Joohyung Kim is capitalising opportunities available at The Hills to make the turn tied for the lead at 10-under.

Brad Kennedy, playing at Millbrook Resort, has continued a hot run of form to be 4-under through eight holes and also in a share of the lead.

The second round cut will be made ahead of round three with the top 60 Professionals plus ties progressing to the weekend.

The 101st New Zealand Open is broadcast live in Australia on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.

For live scores from Millbrook Resort and The Hills visit pga.org.au.

Photo: Photosport NZ


Korean teenage superstar Joohyung Kim has shot 7-under 64 in round one of the 101st New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport, to lead by one shot over Australians Wade Ormsby, Brad Kennedy and Ben Eccles.

The 17-year-old seemingly mastered the challenging winds that hounded the Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort early in the day before closing out his round with a birdie on the 18th.

“I managed myself really well and gave myself lots of good chances and made some good putts too,” Kim said.

“I’ve been very fortunate to play well and I’ve also been working very hard. It’s nice to know that I can still post a good round after a month’s break.

“For tomorrow, I just have to play without any expectations and play the way I did today. A lot will also have to depend on the wind too.”

Queensland’s Brad Kennedy lead the way at The Hills course where he fired seven birdies, three bogeys and a lone eagle at 17 for a 6-under 66 opening scorecard to sit one shot behind Kim.

“It had everything. I thought it was going to hail there at one stage even,” Kennedy said of the weather.

“It was a totally different breeze to what we’re used to. Fourteen was down breeze, 15 was into the breeze so it was a totally different golf course. Luckily I didn’t even have a practice round this week so I just went from what I knew and it was a whole new experience.

“(It) actually caught me a couple of times so to get in the clubhouse with as many birdies as I had; it was a good fun round of golf.”

Low scores were there to be had late in the day at the Millbrook layout where both Wade Ormsby and Ben Eccles charged home for a share of second place.

Named as a reserve for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour co-sanctioned tournament just yesterday, the late call up was a welcome surprise for the Victorian.

“It’s pretty awesome. I said to my best mate who’s caddying for me that I just want to enjoy the week whether I get in or not,” Eccles said.

“We got in yesterday morning so it’s a big bonus and to play like I did today was just awesome.”

Dying winds and a favourable breeze aided Ormsby’s birdie quest on the way to a bogey-free round of 6-under the card.

“I felt like we could have gotten the wrong side of the draw there pretty quickly so it was just a matter of hanging on early,” said Ormsby, who finished runner-up at the 2006 New Zealand Open in Auckland.

“I made some great up and downs on two and three and it was just a matter of hanging on. I started making some birdies back downwind there on seven, eight, nine.

“So that got a bit of momentum going and then I played nice around the back. The game feels pretty good, I putted nicely so I’m happy.”

Recent European Tour winner Lucas Herbert sits within two strokes of the lead alongside Terry Pilkadaris and Japan Golf Tour duo Kazuki Higa and Tatsuya Kodai.

Reigning champion Zach Murray completed his opening round at Millbrook Resort at 3-under the card after a bogey, followed by a double, reduced his 6-under lead.

Kiwi star Ryan Fox enjoyed a competitive start to round one but his total was also reduced to a final card of 2-under.

The New Zealand Open is broadcast live in Australia on Fox Sports Australia and Kayo Sports. For broadcast details click here.

For round one results visit pga.org.au.

Photo: Photosport NZ


Swirling winds and ever-changing conditions were unable to slow Brad Kennedy’s charge in the opening round of the 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.

Playing The Hills course in Arrowtown, New Zealand, Kennedy fired seven birdies, three bogeys and a lone eagle at 17 for a 6-under 66 opening scorecard to sit one shot behind morning leader Joohyung Kim.

Despite the conditions Kennedy was pleased to be at the pointy end of the leaderboard with three consecutive rounds at Millbrook Resort ahead.

“It had everything. I thought it was going to hail there at one stage even,” Kennedy said.

“It was a totally different breeze to what we’re used to. Fourteen was down breeze, 15 was into the breeze so it was a totally different golf course. Luckily I didn’t even have a practice round this week so I just went from what I knew and it was a whole new experience.

“(It) actually caught me a couple of times so to get in the clubhouse with as many birdies as I had; it was a good fun round of golf.”

A cancelled flight delayed Kennedy’s arrival into Queenstown but it did little to rattle the two-time NZ PGA champion who was kept on his toes across 18 holes.

Back-to-back results of T3 in the last two weeks put the Queenslander in good stead for the week ahead but Kennedy will remain focussed on playing an even game when round two begins on Friday.

“I pride myself on consistency, especially when I’m through the season. I’ve wasted a lot of shots over the last three weeks.

“So (I’m) trying to get rid of those. Even today, I hit it in two fairway traps which cost me two bogeys and I thought I was ok and the breeze got me both times.

“If I can eliminate the bogeys I’m actually playing well enough in the rest of it and putting well enough to keep performing so I’ve just got to try and be a little bit smarter and try not to make those soft bogeys.”

Leading the New Zealand Open early in round one is 17-year-old Joohyung Kim who seemingly mastered the Millbrook course in challenging winds.

A final-hole birdie closed out a spectacular round of 7-under par for the rising star who is pleased with the progress his game has made in recent times.

“I managed myself really well and gave myself lots of good chances and made some good putts too,” Kim said.

“I’ve been very fortunate to play well and I’ve also been working very hard. It’s nice to know that I can still post a good round after a month’s break.

“For tomorrow, I just have to play without any expectations and play the way I did today. A lot will also have to depend on the wind too.”

Reigning champion Zach Murray completed his opening round at Millbrook Resort at 3-under the card after a bogey, followed by a double, reduced his 6-under lead.

Kiwi star Ryan Fox enjoyed a competitive start to round one but his total was also reduced to a card of 2-under.

Golfing superstars Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Campbell and recent winner Lucas Herbert all feature in the afternoon field teeing it up on both The Hills and Milbrook courses today.

The New Zealand Open is being broadcast live in Australia on Fox Sports Australia and Kayo Sports. For broadcast details click here.

For the live round one leaderboard visit pga.org.au.

Photo: PhotosportNZ


Forty-eight hours ago Zach Murray was still in Mexico having just played in perhaps one of the biggest tournaments of his career.

Fast forward to Wednesday in New Zealand and the Victorian has touched down in Queenstown ready to defend his New Zealand Open title at the picturesque Millbrook Resort and The Hills.

Similarly to last year, Murray will take to the first tee on Thursday with just a few hours spent on the course but the lack of preparation is no curveball for the jovial 22-year-old.

“I landed in this morning and it’s been a pretty big day and a half for me but I’m feeling pretty good. I just had a nice pie from the bakery in Arrowtown so that’s fixed me up pretty good,” Murray laughed.

“I’m super excited. I’m playing here (Millbrook) tomorrow but playing at The Hills on Friday and going down the 18th (it will be) the next time I’ve been down there since last year so that’ll be pretty cool.

“I am going to be a little bit tired so there’s probably going to be a bit of frustration that could potentially happen so it’s just all about trying to do the best I can off the course and recover and just do all the one per centres as well as trying to enjoy the week.”

A strong few rounds at last week’s WGC-Mexico Championship were marred by food poisoning for an eventual T48 finish for Murray.

Despite ‘running out of gas’ by the final round he insists the experience of playing alongside the world’s best will prove invaluable ahead of the NZ Open.

“I played with Tommy Fleetwood on the last day and it was nice to see how they play compared to my game plan. My game plan is probably quite conservative compared to theirs,” he said.

“Obviously last week, I get a lot of confidence from that and then I think I’ve said it all along this is one of my favourite places in the world, Queenstown, and coming here I was really excited.”

Like many in the 152-player field, Murray describes the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour tournament, played in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour, as a must-play on the schedule.

The European Tour player, who earned his card courtesy of his first-place result on the Australasian Tour’s Order of Merit in 2019, will be joined by some familiar faces on the tee at Millbrook Resort including 2019 amateur partner Scott Heitcamp and Australasian PGA Professional Matt Guyatt.

“Obviously the expectation is to come back and play well and my game is in good shape,” added Murray, who will begin his championship defence at 8:36am (NZDT) on Thursday.

“I’ve got a lot of family and friends over this week and it will just be nice to get out there and play. I’m playing with the same amateur partner as I did last year, Scotty, so I’m looking forward to that as well.”

If victorious again in 2020, Murray will receive the winner’s share of the $NZ1,400,000 prize purse, Official World Golf Ranking Points and status on both the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour.

The 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport is played from 27 February to 1 March 2020 at Millbrook Resort and The Hills in Arrowtown, New Zealand.


Warwick Golf Club Head Professional Sam Eaves has continued a pre-qualifying streak that has this week secured him a place in the field at the 101st New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport.

Eaves shot a seven-under par 64 to lead all scorers in the final qualifying event held at the Caboolture Golf Club in Queensland on Monday.

The former full-time ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia competitor finished tied for 23rd in his last attempt at the NZ Open title in 2015 and will relish the opportunity to return to the top ranks of golf.

“It feels awesome to qualify,” said Eaves, who has played the tournament three times in his career.

“I can’t believe I’ve qualified for another event and also have the opportunity to play the New Zealand Open again. It would have to be my favourite place to play golf.”

Tour professional Michael Wright finished one shot behind Eaves with fellow Queenslander Jack Munro, who has played on the Asian Tour and European Challenge Tour, shooting a five-under 66 to claim the final spot.

The trio will be making a hasty flight across the Tasman to prepare for the 101st New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort and The Hills starting on Thursday.

At Cromwell Golf Club in New Zealand three amateurs have prevailed from 53 golfers at the final qualifying tournament for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament.

Two highly promising young amateurs, Auckland teenager Jimmy Zheng and Christchurch’s Matthew McLean will realise their dream, while experienced Wellington course superintendent, Adam Church will play in his second New Zealand Open.

Zheng and Church both fired six-under par 66s while McLean was the final player to finish, shooting a four-under 68 to snatch the third and final spot up for grabs at the Cromwell Golf Club today.

There were six players tied on three-under 69 waiting for a playoff until McLean charged home to edge them by one shot.

Zheng, 18, from the Howick club was one-under par through nine holes today before firing five birdies on the second nine in his 66. The Youth Olympian is one of the most promising young amateurs in the country.

Joining him is the 38-year-old Church, who played in the New Zealand Open at the Hills in 2009, but had not contemplated entering the qualifying this year.

“My wife entered me and I played well enough in regional qualifying to make it to final today. I played really well today and this is pretty exciting,” said Church.

“With my job and my family I don’t get much time to actually play golf. So this is a real bonus and I am excited.”

Leading Scores Final Qualifying, Cromwell Golf Club, P designates Professional, Par 72, 3 to qualify:

66 Jimmy Zheng (Howick), Adam Church (Judgeford)

68 Matthew McLean (Harewood)

69 Callum Judkins (Otago), Jayden Ford (Judgeford), Lachie McDonald (P, Marton), Victor Janin (P, Rotorua), James Hydes (Gulf Harbour), Jesper Bengtsson (Noth Shore)

70 Mark Hutson (P, Unattached), Yongiu Kin (Whitford Park), Richard Lee (P, NZL) Charlie Smail (Walton), Jordan Woodall (Cambridge).

Leading Scores, Final Qualifying, Caboolture GC, Queensland, all professionals, Par 71, 3 to qualify:

64 Samuel Eves (Queensland)

65 Michael Wright (Queensland)

66 Jack Munro (Queensland)

67 Aaron Wilkin (Queensland), Charlie Dann (Queensland)

68 Chang Gi Lee (Korea), Jihoon Kim (Korea), Peter Martin (Queensland), Austin Bautista (NSW), Douglas Klein (Queensland), Jordan Mullaney (NSW)

69 Lloyd Radcliffe (NSW), Anthony Choat (South Australia).


Maiden victories rarely come easy and for newly crowned Isuzu Queensland Open champion Anthony Quayle the statement rings true.

Following a rollercoaster final round at Pelican Waters Golf Club the Queenslander has won his maiden Professional tournament in a playoff against amateur Jack Thompson.

The 25-year-old carded rounds of 67, 69, 67 and 70 for a 15-under 273 total but it was a regulation par at the first playoff hole that saw Quayle win his first ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia title.

“It feels incredible. I’ve given myself a few chances recently and haven’t been able to pull it off and the feeling of frustration or regret walking off the 18th green is definitely not present at the moment,” Quayle said.

“I felt for a while that my first win would be a pretty difficult one to get done and maybe it was difficult because I thought it into reality.

“I showed myself today what it takes to win and it doesn’t have to go perfect. You can make quite a few mistakes and still have a chance to win. I think it’s a pretty good lesson for me today.”

After starting the final round tied for the lead at 13-under alongside Thompson and James Anstiss, Quayle moved ahead of the pack early with birdies at the first, third, fifth and seventh holes.

The back-nine proved more of a challenge, however, when he fell victim to a bogey, double-bogey combo and the 11th and 12th holes.

Despite admittedly ‘giving myself a bit of a serving’, Quayle managed to turn his mindset around thanks to his coach and caddy for the week, Ken Berndt (KB).

“KB my coach helped me out a lot,” Quayle said while also thanking his parents and wife Sofia for their support.

“We got to a few ahead and then went bogey, double and Jack went par, birdie and all of a sudden he was one ahead and was playing really nicely.

“To catch him I was going to have to play really good golf. KB had a chat to me; got me to compose myself and I barely missed a shot coming in the last five holes.

“He was saying to me as we went to the first playoff hole I didn’t sign up for this extra work, but I wouldn’t be here without him. He’s coached me since I was 14, constantly helping, incredibly selfless, just always there to help you out.”

The Japan Golf Tour player’s record boasts a number of top-10 finishes worldwide including second place at the 2018 Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways but his first win, made in his home state, will stick in his memory forever.

The moment is one Low Amateur Honours winner Jack Thompson will remember for years to come but the disappointment of a narrowly missed win was front of mind after the final putt dropped.

“To be honest I’m pretty gutted. I probably should have grabbed it on the last there, I had about a 12-footer for birdie but at the end of the day I’m still pretty rapt to get Low Am but it would have been nice to come home with the trophy,” Thompson said.

“I really wanted it. I’ve had a few close calls in amateur events and carried on to here. I’m still proud of myself to even take it to a playoff.

“I was proud of myself for sticking in and it’s going to go a long way in terms of all of the other pro events I play, just backing myself on the back-nine even though I didn’t get the job done.”

Brad Kennedy fought back in the final round to finish tied for third alongside Jake Higginbottom at 13-under the card. Steven Jeffress, amateur Josh Armstrong, veteran Richard Green and Kiwi James Anstiss tied for fifth place at 12-under.

Quayle takes home the winner’s share of the $137,500 prize purse, $20,625, as well as Official World Golf Ranking Points and full exemption onto the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of the 2021 season.

Quayle will now travel to Queenstown for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour co-sanctioned 101st New Zealand Open which will tee off at Millbrook Resort & The Hills from Thursday 27 February.


The leaders came back to the field and the lurkers came out of the pack on day three of the Isuzu Queensland Open, leaving a wide open finish to be played out tomorrow at Pelican Waters.

Three players – New Zealander James Anstiss, Queenslander Anthony Quayle and South Australian amateur Jack Thompson – hold the lead at 13-under through three rounds, all going sub-par on Saturday.

But the remarkable fact was that the last group in round three – David Bransdon, Brad Kennedy and Josh Armstrong – all gave up ground. Bransdon had a 73, Armstrong a 74 and Kennedy a 75, pushing them back into the pack.

Aside from the leading trio Western Australian Jarryd Felton and New South Welshman Jake Higginbottom at 12-under are just a shot from the lead and in with a strong chance tomorrow.

At 10-under par alongside Victorian Matias Sanchez, former champion Bransdon has some work to do in the final round, three shots back.

Quayle, 25, will likely go in as the favourite with his good form on the Japanese tour and his tied-15th finish at the ISPS Handa Vic Open. He would love a win in his home state tomorrow.

“If I play how I did the last three days, I think it’s either going to be a winning score or pretty close to it,” he said. “I have to try and enjoy myself out there. I’ve been in the last group or the second-last group, this is the third tournament in a row. I’ve given myself a chance.”

Anstiss, 24, from Queenstown, is seeking his first win. His day began with a bad tee shot, and ended with a bogey, but in between he was brilliant.

“I didn’t think it was going to happen after my first tee shot, lost ball,’’ he said. “I was heading back in a cart to hit my third (shot) off the first, so 66 I’ll take. It was pretty good.”

Thompson, 21, originally from Port Lincoln, plays out of The Grange in Adelaide and is one of this country’s best amateurs. But he surprised himself with his 68 on Saturday.

“I’d like to say I thought I was going to do well and up there, but probably not,” he said. “Probably not to be 13-under and tied for the lead.’’

Thompson won the 2018 men’s Riversdale Cup and is rapt to be in contention.

“I’ve been playing well,” he said. “It’s nice to finally put it into a pro event. I’ve played a few now, a few good finishes. It’s nice to be up the top. I’m stoked.

“It’s my first final group in a pro event. I’m ready for the challenge and what it brings.”

The final round of the Isuzu Queensland Open will begin at 8:50am AEST while the leading group of Anstiss, Quayle and Thompson will take to the first tee at 10:430m.

Visit pga.org.au for the full #QldOpen leaderboard.


There’s been much talk of a changing of the guard on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, but David Bransdon and Brad Kennedy aren’t having a bar of it.

The pair, as well as fellow 40-something Richard Green, are all perfectly poised to halt the advance of the youth brigade at Pelican Waters this weekend, holding sway at the halfway point of the Isuzu Queensland Open.

While New South Welshman Jake Higginbottom matched Bransdon’s opening day course-record 63 today, it wasn’t enough to run down the Victorian’s edge.

Higginbottom roared through from +1 overnight all the way to -8 to sit alongside emerging pair Jarryd Felton and Anthony Quayle in a share of fifth with Green.

Talented amateur pair Josh Armstrong, of Canberra, and Jack Thompson, of Adelaide, sit third and fourth at 11 and 10 under, respectively, but they’re spotting a couple of Japan Golf Tour players a start for the weekend on the Sunshine Coast.

Kennedy, one of the hottest golfers on the planet in November and early December, has shown flashes of brilliance in the opening weeks of his 2020 campaign.

And the Queenslander did so again today with six birdies en route to a 68 that added to his opening 65 to leave him 11 under in total.

But it was a great approach that set up a tap-in birdie on the last that preserved Bransdon’s one-stroke lead with the Victorian, a former winner of the T.B. Hunter Cup at Brookwater, signing for a second-round 69 to sit 12 under.

Bransdon immediately said he’d look forward to playing with Kennedy’s familiar face and more traditional tactics as the youngsters chased.

“I played with Brad last Saturday (in the Queensland PGA Championship) and we’ve played a lot in Japan since I’ve been up there,” Bransdon said.

“The young guys they’ll do what they do … hit it 400 (metres), go wedge it and have a few putts, and we’ll play a different game our way,” he said with a broad smile.

Bransdon said stiffer afternoon breezes made scoring more difficult than his early opening-day barrage.

“It got tricky on the back nine … it was crosswinds and hard to pick,” he said.

“I hit a couple of ordinary golf shots, but overall it was still nice.”

Incredibly, 12 amateurs made the cut which was made at +1 to find the top 50 professionals and ties.

A host of big names missed the weekend action including Deyen Lawson, Ash Hall, Scott Arnold, Aaron Townsend and defending champion Jordan Zunic.

Local amateur Sarah Wilson, just the second woman to play in the Queensland Open, made a run with two late birdies, but came up one short at +2 despite a fine second-round 72.

The first group will tee off at 9:05am AEST while the leading group of Bransdon, Kennedy and Armstrong will take to the first tee at 10:45am.

For the full #QldOpen leaderboard and tee times visit pga.org.au.


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