Bowditch looking for wire-to-wire victory at QLD Open

BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2004 Queensland Open | Round Three | 06 Nov 2004

Steve Bowditch can complete a remarkable comeback from virtual oblivion by winning the Q.L.D Group Queensland Open at Ipswich Golf Club tomorrow.

The Noosa 21-year-old will take a five-shot lead into the final round after an impressive round of four-under 68 today.

At 18-under, Bowditch leads three players – Nigel Spence, Richard Ball and Brad MacIntosh – by five shots. Sunshine Coast-based Spence was one of two players to shoot 65, the best effort of the day.

The other was popular Queensland-based Irishman Eddie Barr, whose seven-under round gave him a three-round total of eight-under 208.

Bowditch paid tribute to his girlfriend and caddy Trudy Dibley, who inspired him to again take up the game after a period of despair mid-year.

“I gave up golf for three months in the middle of the year,” Bowditch said. “I’d just had enough.” Bowditch said he couldn’t break 80 in Europe and decided enough was enough. “There’s a lot of money it Europe, but when you don’t want to be there, it’s better to come home,” he said.

On returning home, he worked in the pro shop at Kooralbyn and soon met Dibley. “She kept my head up,” Bowditch said. He eventually returned and is now on the verge of an Australian Open place if he can win tomorrow.

He’ll have a fight on his hands, with Spence, Ball and MacIntosh all capable of shooting a low score.

“I’ll need at least 20 under to win it,” Bowditch said.

Spence, who finished ninth in 2002 and sixth last year, said he loved the Ipswich layout. He said the key to his superb round today was his excellence from the tee. “I’ve always been a good wedge player and I’m driving it well this year,” Spence said.

Ball’s 67 was only blemished by a bogey on the 319m, par-four 17th. If Ball wins tomorrow, it will be his first success since the 2002 South Australian PGA.

Defending champion Scott Hend, standing out in his pink strides, was disappointed with his round of 70, which left him seven shots adrift of Bowditch.

Amateur star Jason Day had a one-under 71 to leave him at 10 under after three rounds. the tournament’s leading amateur is now Indooroopilly’s Adam Blyth – who had an excellent tournament last year, finishing tied for 3rd Blyth has had rounds of 71, 65, 69 to be at 11 under par.

Source – QGU