Campbell rallies to tie for third
WELLINGTON: New Zealander Ben Campbell bounced back from a disastrous third round to finish in a tie for third place at the Fiji International yesterday, two strokes behind winner Gaganjeet Bhullar, of India.
The 26yearold fired sixunder 66, with just one bogey to offset seven birdies, to finish 12under for the tournament in a tie for third with South African Ernie Els.
Campbell had held a fourstroke lead after opening rounds of 67 and 66, making just three bogeys over the first two rounds.
He could not continue that form in round three, carding fiveover 77, managing just two birdies through the front nine and amassing five bogeys and a double bogey to sit sixth going into the final round.
‘‘I don’t feel like I played anywhere near as bad as what I scored, actually,’’ he said afterwards.
‘‘I just had two bad swings that really cost me. It felt like I should have shot 1over, 2over at most.’’
Young Australian Anthony Quayle produced a sensational finish, only to be pipped by Bhullar.
Quayle played the back nine holes in 7under par as he shot a closing nineunder 63 to be clubhouse leader late in the $A1.25 million ($NZ1.37 million), trisanctioned tournament on a windy Natadola Bay course.
However, thirdround leader Bhullar chipped in to match Quayle’s eagle on the par5 17th hole and it proved the difference, as his 66 gave him a oneshot victory.
‘‘Things were a little bit tough for me but I managed to make a really good par save on 10 and that gave me a really big boost and a lot of confidence,’’ he said.
‘‘After that it was just one shot at a time.’’ — RNZ