BROTHERS R ALLY
WORLD No. 3 Jason Day has cursed sluggish starts at his hometown event but is desperate to find consistency in his final hit- out before the US Open.
Day clawed his way back from the bottom of the leaderboard during the third round of the US PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament on Saturday. But the Columbus resident Day lamented just three opening rounds under par in nine starts at Muirfield Village, where he is a member.
The 29- year- old Australian, who opened the Jack Nicklaushosted event with a 75 on Thursday, fired a five- under- par 67 on day three but sits 10 shots back off the lead.
Day is tied for 27th with fellow Australian Adam Scott, who carded a 71. Chasing his first PGA Tour victory, unheralded American Daniel Summerhays carded a 68 to soar to 13 under, pouncing on spectacular collapse from overnight leader Jason Dufner ( 77).
Summerhays took a threeshot lead into the finale over Matt Kuchar ( 67) at 10 under, with two- times Masters winner Bubba Watson ( 68), world No. 13 Justin Thomas ( 69) and Dufner in a tie for third one shot back. Sunday would be Day’s last competitive round before a week off preparing for the US Open.
“I always struggle just trying to get off to a good start here ( but) I seem to play OK on the weekend. Hopefully I can play well tomorrow; that will give me a good boost going into the off week, so I can train and practise a little harder,” he said.
Marc Leishman was left to fly the Australian flag, carding even- 72 to share 19th. AN inspired late comeback from Brothers propelled them to a 16- 10 win over a shell- shocked Herbert River Crushers in the top of the table clash at Ingham yesterday.
With both teams depleted by injury, Brothers trailed 10- 0 with 10 minutes left, but three late tries handed them victory over the defending premiers.
The win puts Brothers at outright top of the Townsville and District Rugby League table with eight wins from nine games.
In other matches Burdekin Roosters warmed up for their clash with the strong Herbert River side next round with a 52- 14 demolition of struggling Norths at Peggy Banfield Park on Saturday night.
Although they were expected to account for winless Norths, the win further solidifies the Roosters’ finals spot as the top four put daylight between them and the rest.
The Roosters were without forward Dylan Jensen and hooker Jack Hearn, but had far too much class for the hosts.
The win improves their record to 7- 2 and the four teams to play finals seems virtually finalised just nine rounds into the season.
“It’s maybe turned into a battle to see how much you can beat those bottom four teams by to impact where you finish on the table,” Roosters assistant coach Craig List said.
“To their credit, Norths gave it to us at the start before we got into the groove of things, and we made a few too many mistakes.”
In yesterday’s other games University and Charters Towers shared the spoils in a 44- all try- fest, while Western Lions edged Centrals 28- 24 in a close contest at the Townsville Sports Reserve. TDRL: ROUND 9 BURDEKIN 52 d NORTHS 14, UNIVERSITY SAINTS 44 drew with CHARTERS TOWERS 44, BROTHERS 16 d HERBERT RIVER 10; WESTERN LIONS 28 d CENTRALS 24