Aussies struggle at Porter Cup
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2007 Porter Cup | Round Three | 28 Jul 2007
American Brian Harman will have the luxury of taking a four stroke lead heading into the final round of the Porter Cup from his nearest rival Lucas Lee. Billy Horschel is in outright third at 11 under in a leaderboard dominated by Americans.
Harman since his first round 64 has lead the field and never looked back, shooting the lights out of the Niagara Falls Country Club, with rounds of 63, 66 to be 17 under after the third round and on target to eclipse Casey Wittenberg’s 2003 tournament record of 14 under 266.
Andrew Dodt remains Australia’s best performer at T20 and 2 under. Dodt has secured three sub-par rounds of 69, 69 and 70. Aaron Pike and Tim Stewart follow Dodt and both share T32 at even par for the tournament. New Zealander James Gill is T36 at plus 1 along with Matthew Griffin.
Both Rohan Blizard (T49) and Rick Kulacz (54th) have fallen well back in the field and out of contention at the tournament.
Harman, a 20-year-old from the University of Georgia and 2005 Walker Cup team member, has a fifth at the Dogwood Invitational as his best result.
It was only twelve months ago Harman was America’s top ranked amateur and whilst he’s considered an outsider to make the US Walker Cup team for Ireland in September, this week at Niagara Falls he’s outplayed a field, which included five of the top ten R&A world ranked players.
The stage is set for records to fall at the Porter Cup, as well for players to make a final impression for Walker Cup selection whilst there is still time.
The USGA is expected to name seven or eight players to the team following the Western Amateur next week, with final selections being made after the US Amateur, 20-26 August, at Olympic Club in San Francisco.
At present, the Porter Cup is there for Harman’s taking and with his game so far appearing impenetrable, it certainly will require an extraordinary round from another player to prevent him from claiming the title.
With the exception of Dodt, for the rest of the Australians their tournament is at an end. They now prepare for US Amateur qualifying rounds starting Monday in Chicago.
This week, Dodt has remarked that his game is there and that he can score low. He feels the course is playing easier than in recent years and feels a low round is there for the taking. Either way, the Porter Cup is in for a fine finish.
