Amateur James Nitties stars on day three
IN: News | Australasian PGA | MasterCard Masters (2003) | Round Three | by Bruce Young | 06 Dec 2003
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21-year-old James Nitties from Newcastle continued a brilliant year when his third round 66 moved him to within one of the lead and when he finished his round that gap was extended to two by Allenby with a birdie at the 10th.
Nitties, who played in the Four Nations and Southern Cross Championship for Australia this year and won the New Zealand Amateur in May is a member of the New South Wales Institute of Sport's golf programme although he attends it from Newcastle. He played in several amateur events in the US throughout 2003 so it has been a year of developing experience and his game.
"I am anticipating turning pro in about a years time depending on how things develop over that time but amateur golf these days provides tremendous opportunities and it allows a golfer to develop experience," he said in the press conference later.
At the completion of his round he stood at eight under and with Allenby subsequently bogeying the 11th hole he now stands just one off the lead as this is being written and alone in second place.
Another big day faces the young talent tomorrow but with experience here last year when he was the leading amateur and again at the 2001 Australian Open at the Grand where he was also the leading amateur will mean that he should be able to stay focussed.
