Dowling dream is alive at Qld Open

BILLY Dowling went to sleep on Friday night with that simple 15-year-old dream of golfing history at the Isuzu Queensland Open.

All Dowling (pictured) has to do is keep putting as well as he has for 33 holes ... and avoid any huge Isuzu trucks that might again get in the way.

Not even former world No.1 Jason Day made the cut at 15 at the Queensland Open in 2003 when he shot 76-79 at Ipswich Golf Club.

Dowling’s one-under-par position is right on the cut line while five players sit atop a bunched leaderboard at eightunder at Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast.

Veterans Michael Wright and Peter Wilson will be out early at 7.30am on Saturday to complete their final two holes.

Both share that eightunder perch with Newcastle’s Blake Windred (67-69), Victorian Bryden Macpherson

(72-64) and Wynnum’s Chris Wood (68-68).

Macpherson’s hot 64 included two eagles on par fives but it was the magnetic story of Dowling, in the last group, which had even seasoned pros willing him on.

“How old ... 15! ... how good is that?,” Wright, 47, said with delight.

Wright has been a pro for 22 years, longer than Dowling has been alive.

He was teaching schoolkids Dowling’s age last year to support his family when COVID cancelled golf tournaments.

“The teaching saved us as a family. It’s given life some balance with golf as well,” he said.

Dowling was sipping a Coke casually in the carpark with 13year-old caddie Alfie Ward when he dissected his oneunder position through 15 holes after his 72 on Thursday.

His run in with the truck was on his ninth hole, the par four 18th, where tournament sponsor Isuzu had one in a wide bunker for promotional purposes. “I hit a three wood off a tough uphill lie, it hit the top of the truck and bounced into the hazard,” Dowling said.