Younger, Price lead field into weekend championship action
Josh Younger and Aaron Price take a two-shot lead into today’s Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship third round after the pair forged into tournament contention at City Golf Club yesterday.
Younger set the morning pace with a six-under score of 64 before being joined at -12 by Price who also shot 64 in an afternoon round disrupted by a 90-minute delay due to lightning.
The pair leads by two shots from a group of five players including round-one leader Darren Beck and two-time Queensland PGA runner-up Matthew Millar.
Younger, who is being caddied for this week by 14-year-old Toowoomba Golf Club junior and three-marker Ben Milner, is aiming for more of the same over the weekend as he looks to break his City drought.
“I’ve played here most times it’s been played here (but) I’ve never really challenged at the weekend,” Younger said.
“This by far the best position I’ve been in after two rounds.
“I haven’t had a bogey in two rounds which is a big help.
“Normally my tendency is to make a few birdies but I tend to give them back.”
Price is also relishing his opportunity to figure in the main weekend action after peeling off consecutive rounds of 64.
“I’ll take another 64 tomorrow if they let me sit in the clubhouse,” Price smiled.
“It’s going to be good to be in the mix.
“I haven’t played much under the pump for the last couple of years, so I’m just looking forward to it.”
Millar was forced to regroup after a poor start.
“After a poor start I really started to put it together. I gave myself a kick up the backside and put together four birdies in a row which was nice.
“There’s some good golf being played.
“By the look of it you are going to need 20 (under) or in the 20s (to win).”
A total of 52 players will line up for weekend play after finishing on the half-way cut mark of -4 or better.
Those who failed to move through included defending champion Daniel Pearce who fired a two-round total of -2.
City Golf Club amateurs Wade Edwards, Mathew Chapman and Mark Ryle will also miss the weekend play.
The trio’s second round was highlighted by Chapman’s score of two under.