Martin prepared for PNG Open title battle - PGA of Australia

Martin prepared for PNG Open title battle


The stage is set for a show
down tomorrow at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club. Peter Martin heads a packed
leaderboard of players eager to record a win.

The stage is set for a show
down tomorrow at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club. Peter Martin heads a packed
leaderboard of players eager to record a win.

"PeterStarting the day four shots off the lead, Martin recorded his second bogey free round in as many days to hold a one shot advantage heading into the final round of the South Pacific Export Radler PNG Open.

"I wasn’t sure quite where I stood but I played pretty solid, it was stress free, I only looked like making one bogey and made a good putt for par," said Martin.

"This is my second round in a row that was bogey free which is always nice."

Cruising out on course, Martin hopes
to continue with his relaxed mindset as he aims to shoot a low number to claim his first PGA Tour of Australasia title.

"I’m feeling comfortable, my game is solid, it’s not all over the place so it’s always easy to work that way," added Martin.

"Hopefully I can keep channeling the
same mindset. I got a little shaky the last few holes knowing that I was in among it."

"I am going to have to make 4 or 5-under tomorrow with those guys behind me. I think someone will come out of that pack and shoot 6, 7, or 8-under so I am going to have to keep pushing forward. They certainly
won’t be going away."

A long time visitor to Paupua New Guinea, Martin is pleased to see the tournament become part of the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule.

"I think it’s a good initiative to have the PNG Open as a Tour event, it means more to us as a winner and moving forward with
our careers," added Martin.

"All the members and everyone else around the tournament support it and it’s a good atmosphere. The tents down 17 and 18, they get a bit rowdy and that’s part of the fun of it all."

Sitting just one shot behind Martin is Queensland young gun Aaron Wilkin
who is hungry to take out the title tomorrow.

"I am extremely happy. I haven’t put too many expectations on the week. I have been here before and know what to expect so I am just going through my processes. So far it’s working well," said Wilkin.

"A win opens a lot more doors than
what I have at the moment so it would be great. I am going to try not to think about it too much and try to do my best, that’s all I can do." 

Wilkin was impressive in the third round today firing 4-under 68 to move himself into contention.

"I started really well. I hit a poor
drive on 10 and had to take a drop because I was in the water. I hit another poor shot which lead to a six which wasn’t too good," added Wilkin.

"I was really happy with how I finished it off. I stayed calm and made a few putts coming in. I think the back-9 is a little harder so to get a few
back was really nice."

"The birdie I made on 11, straight after making double on 10. That was pretty important I think and a good kick start."

Joining Wilkin in second place on the leaderboard is overnight leader Mitchell A. Brown after he shot 1-over the card today.

Sitting
on 9-under the card is amateur Anthony Quayle and Damien Jordan who had rounds of 68 and 69 respectively today.

A shot further back are Michael Wright, Taylor Macdonald, Tom Bond and Kristopher Mueck. While James Marchesani rounds out the top-10 on 7-under the card.

The final round
of the South Pacific Export Radler PNG Open tees off at 9.15am with the final group of Martin, Wilkin and Brown on course at 11am.

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