Geary top Kiwi as Popovic eyes PGA
JOSH GEARY continued to fly the Kiwi flag at the season- ending Australian PGA Championship on the Sunshine Coast to sit within range of a top-10 finish, heading into the final round at Coolum today.
The 28- year- old from Invercargill constructed his second 3- under round of 69 in benign conditions yesterday to lie in a share of 18th at six-under, seven shots adrift of Australian Daniel Popovic, who has topped the leader board since Thursday’s opening round.
Geary, who turned professional in 2007, made a stunning start on the front nine, racking up four consecutive birdies to be sevenunder the card at one point.
His fifth birdie on the par-3 11th had him on track for one of the rounds of the day, but he lost ground with bogeys on the 12th and last.
Mark Brown recorded his first sub-par round of the tournament, a two- under 70 complementing consistent 71s to leave him as the next best New Zealander in 31st at four-under.
Australian Peter Senior’s rise from eighth to a tie for third at 10-under officially ended Michael Hendry’s slender hopes of claiming the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Order of Merit and rewards including a start in next year’s British Open.
Senior’s five-birdie, four-under 68 strengthens his hold on the Order given former leader Hendry, his closest challenger, is languishing in 41st at two-under – eight strokes behind the veteran.
The 32-year-old Aucklander at least fashioned his best round so far, a three-under 69 containing four birdies and just one bogey.
Brad Shilton made significant strides on Friday to ensure he made the cut, but he was unable to replicate his five-under 67, and an even-par round left him in 44th with a one-under three round total of 215.
Nick Gillespie, the only other Kiwi from the original 12-strong contingent to survive the cut, was one- over thanks to his second even-par effort.
Popovic continued to set aside the emotions involved with his father’s ongoing battle with cancer by carding a 69 studded with six birdies, many the product of pre-
I’m over the moon, I couldn’t feel any better. PGA leader Daniel Popovic
cision putting from long range.
The Victorian leads compatriot Anthony Brown, who has never won a pro event, whose ninebirdie blitz set up the round of the day, a superb eight-under 64.
‘‘I’m over the moon, I couldn’t feel any better,’’ said Popovic, holding his new $175 putter which could net him the $250,000 winner’s prize.
‘‘I knew I had it in me. I know I’ve got one more good round in me if I stick to the routine that has worked so far.’’
Popovic said the Odyssey No 7 putter he had be given before the PGA had saved him ‘‘at least three or four strokes a round’’.
‘‘I’m never going to let it out of my sight.’’ China’s Xin Jun Zhang, who shared the lead with Popovic at the start of the day, opened his costly 74 with back-to-back bogeys and although he then reeled off three birdies, a triple bogey eight on the 12th was the catalyst for his drift to ninth. YOU DON’T get a dog and bark yourself, so the saying goes.
On the surface, that appears to be what Phoenix part-owner Gareth Morgan is doing. He’s employed Ricki Herbert as coach, told him what a fantastic job he’s doing, and now he’s telling him how to do his job.
‘‘Play more attractive football or else,’’ is the guts of the message Morgan sent Herbert, justifiably feeling that he who pays the piper calls the tune.
Morgan is no doubt as dismayed as the steadily dwindling fan base by the mediocre fare being dished up by Herbert and his team, and as boss, it’s his job to sort it out.
Now that the club’s owners have had more time to study the spreadsheets, they might have