Course record-equalling 64 blasts Zunic to the top of the pile on the Gold Coast
Jordan Zunic carded a stunning 64 on day three at the Australian PGA Championship to equal the course record and take a three-shot lead into the final round at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
The Australian, who has a top-10 finish at this event in 2016, began the day three shots off the lead but turned in 29 and when he made four birdies in a row from the 13th, the first 59 in European Tour history looked a very real possibility.
A bogey on the 17th and a double bogey on the last ultimately put a halt on those hopes, however, the 25-year-old still moved into a commanding lead at 17-under-par on the Gold Coast.
Zunic said: “It was a bit of a flash that round. I can’t remember it almost because I was just going with the flow. I just did such a great job today of what I’ve been working on in regards to my mindset.
“I’m just really happy with today. Obviously the way I played all day, it was just really what I know I’m capable of doing, so to actually go out and do that when it’s in tournament mode and on a Saturday
afternoon is awesome.”
His playing partner and fellow countryman Cameron Smith produced a second consecutive 67 to lead a chasing pack dominated by home players, with Adam Bland a further shot back, and world No. 13 Marc Leishman and David Bransdon at 10-under-par.
Australian Greg Chalmers – a two-time winner of this event – sits at nine-under with Masters Champion Sergio Garcia, leading the European Tour challenge, a shot behind.
The Spaniard made four birdies in his first 14 holes. However bogeys on the 16th and 18th to finish the day kept the 37-year-old to eight-under-par.
Spaniard Garcia said: “I am proud of myself because I feel like I’m going on fumes, so for that obviously my head is not as sharp as it should be and I’m making stupid mistakes here and there.
“But other than that, I feel like I fought hard again today and it’s a shame about the finish because, you know, I finished two-under.
“Unfortunately, I’d a couple bogeys there at the end. But like I said, the way I’m feeling, as tired as I am, I’m still proud of the way I fought.”
Marc Leishman said: “It was a tough day.
“I think I’m, what, seven or eight back going into tomorrow. I’ll need to go out and attack and try and shoot as low as I can.
“I’m probably a little far back to contend but stranger things have happened.”