First year pro Richard Swift takes lead at Queensland PGA
BY Bruce Young | Von Nida Tour | 2003 Queensland PGA | Round Two | 07 Nov 2003
25-year-old New South Wales golfer and professional for just under twelve months, Richard Swift, takes a two shot lead into the third round of the 2003 Emerald Lakes Queensland PGA Championship. His second consecutive round of 65 has him at fourteen under par and two ahead of four players tied in second place, namely Tony Carolan, who produced a 64 in the afternoon, first round leader Larry Austin, Jason King and David Diaz.
Three strokes off the lead at eleven under are Andrew Bonhomme and Matthew Ecob.
Swift turned professional just on twelve months ago after playing several amateur events in the United States where he qualified for the US Amateur in 2002 and also claimed the New South Wales Amateur Champion title in the same year. He gained his Australasian Tour card late in 2002 and has played mainly on the pro am circuit and Von Nida Tour this year. He was on the National Squad before turning professional.
Carolan produced a bogey free round of 64, the equal best of the afternoon and irrespective of the outcome this weekend he heads to the US for next week’s USPGA Tour stage two qualifying with his game in good shape.
The round of the day belonged to Peter Senior despite two consecutive bogeys at the start of the day. He produced eleven further birdies to finish with 63 and instead of looking at missing the cut he is now in some sort of contention at 9 under par.
Euan Walters produced his highlight of the week with a hole in one at the third hole.
The cut fell at five under par with sixty two players making it to the weekend. Tee times for the final round are being brought forward one hour and the final group are to hit off at 11:00am EST.
