Historic day for NZ golf at Open?
BY Bruce Young | Australasian PGA Tour | 2008 Australian Open | Round Four | 14 Dec 2008
The final round of the 2008 Australian Open will be played in blustery warm conditions at the Royal Sydney Golf Club with the possibility of a significant day for New Zealand golf.
Not only is their leading world ranked golfer, David Smail, one shot ahead in the tournament itself but their number two world ranked player, Mark Brown, has a significant lead on the Australasian Tour Order of Merit.
Smail tees off at 1.10pm with New South Wales golfer Andre Stolz while Ewan Porter and second round leader, Stephen Dartnall, are in the penultimate group at 1.01pm.
Brown is well placed to claim the top position on the Australasian Tour Order of Merit which is finalised at the completion of this event. Brown has a lead of $77,000 over the second placed Rod Pampling and A$154,000 over Geoff Ogilvy.
Pampling could still win the money list title as could Ogilvy but Pampling would need to finish inside the top three today and hope for a poor day from Brown while Ogilvy would need to win the event.
Brown starts the day six shots behind the lead while Pampling is one shot further back and Ogilvy one shot further back again.
