Nitties makes move at NSW Open
BY Anthony Powter | Australasian PGA Tour | 2009 New South Wales Open | Round Two | 27 Nov 2009
James Nitties enjoys a four stroke lead heading into the third round of the NSW Open being played at The Vintage Golf Club in the Hunter Valley, after rounds of 65-68 to have the Novocastrian at 9-under-par for the championship.
On a day where most players struggled with the testing windy conditions, including overnight leader and tournament host, Nathan Green, Nitties recorded five birdies and two bogeys to lead the field from Victorian, Craig Scott.
Scott, who played strongly at the JBWere Masters a fortnight ago, managed a 1-under-par 70 to build upon his opening 4-under-par, 67 to be at 5-under-par.
Aaron Pike is a stroke behind Scott in 3rd position after rounds of 68-70 at 4-under-par, whilst four players are fighting out 4th position at 3-under-par, including Andrew Bonhomme, rookie New Zealand professional Mark Purser, Doug Holloway and Heath Reed.
The top amateurs going into the weekend are Michael Bell from NSW Golf Club, who’s currently in a tie with Adam Downton at 1-over-par for the tournament.
Overnight leader, Nathan Green, struggled a little during his second round 5-over-par 76, after opening with a 7-under-par, 64.
Green, winner on the PGA Tour this season at the RBC Canadian Open, currently finds himself in a tie for 8th at 2-under-par.
Nitties last year won his maiden Australian Tour title with the 2008 Western Australian Open, two weeks before he gaining his rookie US PGA Tour card. It was his second career title after winning his first professional tournament with the Base Camp Realty Chesdin Landing Open in 2006 on the Hooters Tour.
During today’s round at The Vintage, Nitties was able to keep his score low to be only one of three players who broke par for the day, including Aaron Pike and Craig Scott.
Considering that the majority of the field averaged a second round score of 76, Nitties’ 3-under-par round was impressive and sets up his chances well of claiming his second Australian title.
This year on the PGA Tour, Nitties finished with earnings just under US$940,000, through two top-10 finishes, including a 4th at the FBR Open. He made fifteen cuts from twenty-seven starts to retain his card through finishing 96th on the 2009 Money List, well inside the top-125 cut mark.
The cut at the NSW Open came in at 4-over-par, with four amateurs making the weekend.
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