SYDNEY, 28 November 2004 — Australia’s Rod Pampling recovered from a shaky start to yesterday’s third round of the centenary Australian Open to retain the outright lead going into the final day.
Pampling started the third day four strokes in front but finished just one ahead after shooting a three-over-par 74 for a three round total of five-under-par 208.
Richard Green, a runner-up three times this season on the European PGA Tour, carded a 67, the best round of the day, to move into second place a shot behind Pampling who won his first US PGA Tour event at Colorado in August.
First-round leader Kurt Barnes, a coal miner’s son trying to scratch out a living as a professional golfer, was a shot back at three-under after shooting 72.Stuart Appleby (72) and Paul Gow (71) were tied at two-under while a bunch of 11 players were within six shots of the leader heading into the final round of one of the world’s oldest national championships.
Dodd Holds On to Three-Stroke Lead at China Open
In Shanghai, Welshman Stephen Dodd stayed three strokes clear of the chasing pack at the Volvo China Open yesterday but Dane Thomas Bjorn moved hot on his heels after firing a four-under-par 68.
Dodd recorded a second successive two-under-par 70 to retain his overnight lead at Shanghai Silport Golf Club in the one million dollar championship, jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
Back-in-form Bjorn got into gear thanks to a strong inward nine to lie joint second with compatriot Soren Hansen, who battled to a 70. Another Welshman, Bradley Dredge, also carded a 70 to lie a stroke further back.
Korea’s Chung Joon and Scotland’s Simon Yates maintained the Asian Tour presence on the leaderboard, hitting 72 and 70 respectively to leave them five off the pace entering the final round. The laidback Welshman, chasing his first career title and who has never led going into the final round, started strongly with birdies on the fifth and sixth holes but tripped up with a triple bogey at the next, finding the water hazard with a flier from out of the rough.
Bjorn endured a rough summer which saw him walk off the course in an Irish event but showed he is clearly back in the groove, firing five birdies, including three in a row from the 14th hole.
New Zealander David Smail Takes Lead at Casio World Open
In Kaimon, Japan, New Zealander David Smail took a two-stroke lead over Hunter Mahan of the United States in a windy third round of the Casio World Open golf tournament yesterday.
Smail, who won the Japanese tournament in 2002, made five birdies against two bogeys for a three-under-par 69 on the windswept 7,151-yard Ibusuki Golf Club.
Taking sole possession of the lead with a three-round total of 205, the 34-year-old said the heavy winds here did not break his rhythm, as even stronger gusts blow in his homeland.
Mahan, 22, leader after the first round, said winds made it a tough round, adding that he struggled with the putter.
He said, however, he was able to keep calm, finishing the three rounds with a 207.
Overnight leader Charl Schwartzel of South Africa followed the two, and tied with Takashi Kamiyama of Japan at 208 after three rounds.
