Big day ahead for Nick O'Hern
IN: News | Australasian PGA | MasterCard Masters (2005) | Round Three | by Bruce Young | 10 Dec 2005
It was cooler and windier on day three of the MasterCard Masters and, with one or two exceptions, the early scoring indicated that this would be a slightly more demanding Huntingdale layout than had been the case on days one and two.
Those early exceptions included the pre tournament favourite, Adam Scott, who was in one of the first few groups out at 7.50am this morning. He finished with 68 and had moved to two under.
Also out early was Greg Chalmers, who had been runner up here last year when he lost in a playoff to Richard Green. Chalmers closed with a back nine of 31 to finish with 66 and at four under he had moved from the cut line to ninth with his morning's work.
Ryan Haller was another to make a big move. He birdied five holes in a row through the middle of his round and when he added another at the 14th he too was at six under for the round and four under for the tournament. Haller recently missed out at stage two at the USPGA Tour school but is a renowned Pro-Am specialist from Queensland. He eventually finished with 66 and is on track for what may prove to be his best Australasian Tour event finish.
Brad McIntosh, who recently became the first player to break 60 in an Australian professional event, moved to two under through three and was also at four under for the tournament and inside the top ten at that time.
Others making progress from further back were Aron Price, Paul Gow, Brad Lamb, Steve Bowditch and the brilliant Sydney amateur Won Joon Lee who were all at three under for the tournament at various stages of their rounds after starting the day well back.
Nick O'Hern and Bubba Watson would tee off at 1:20pm. There had been some confusion at one stage when the original draw for today's play had Allenby playing with O'Hern but that was changed when the tournament officials realised their mistake. Being the first to finish on nine under yesterday, Watson of course would be the leader's partner today.
Today would see O'Hern looking to consolidate two outstanding rounds of golf on days one and two and maintain, if not extend, his five shot lead. O'Hern tends to play a mistake free game and he will need to continue doing so if his quest for such a significant title is to stay on track.
Allenby will play with Martin Doyle at 1:11pm.
Photo - Anthony Powter
