ID :
34262
Sat, 12/06/2008 - 17:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/34262
The shortlink copeid
Lyle takes outright lead at PGA
Former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy turned the worst shot of his third round into a spectacular chip in for birdie, setting the scene for some last day fireworks in the $1.5 million Australian PGA Championship.
In a remarkable few holes, the tournament went from seemingly having four players
tied on 11 under on the last day, to gritty Tasmanian Mathew Goggin (69) completing
an incredible late fight back to snatch a one shot lead at 12 under.
Goggin, who slipped back to eight under at one stage at the Hyatt Regency resort,
pulled out the shot of the day by planting his approach to the 18th green less than
a metre from the pin.
"It was a knock down six iron from 150 metres," said Goggin who dragged out three
birdies in his last four holes.
When putters were finally holstered, Goggin emerged with a slender lead over Ogilvy
(67-71-67) and last weekend's Masters champion Rod Pampling (70-67-68), both on 11
under.
Victorian Jarrod Lyle, who'd bravely defied the challengers all afternoon, cracked
in the searing heat and humidity late in his round.
He struggled to keep his rhythm, posting three bogeys in six holes, unable to match
Friday's course record equalling 63 with a one under 71.
Lyle ended a tough day on 10 under, the same score as Peter O'Malley who repeated
Friday's five under 67 to give himself a chance of a huge upset.
Ogilvy tried to play defensively into the 18th hole and came up with "my worst shot
of the day".
"Maybe it (the chip in) was good karma for missing all those putts during the day,"
he said.
Ogilvy seemed unimpressed when reminded that he was a non-winner at home.
It suggests his resolve will be steely to win a tournament steeped in so much
history and finally get the monkey off his back.
"It would just be nice not to hear the question," said Ogilvy when the "m" word was
mentioned after his round.
"Obviously I want to win at home.
"We play all around the world and you win tournaments all around the world ...
obviously I want to win at home.
It was veteran's day for a while as firstly Peter Senior, 49, who won the PGA at
Coolum in 2003, and then O'Malley, 43, threatened to upstage the young guns.
Senior (70-67-71) worked within two shots of the lead early on the back nine before
dropping a shot on his last hole to finish eight under and four behind Goggin.
Pampling has a chance to head to Sydney next week for the Australian Open chasing a
rare treble if he follows up his Masters win by collecting the Joe Kirkwood Cup on
Sunday.
In a remarkable few holes, the tournament went from seemingly having four players
tied on 11 under on the last day, to gritty Tasmanian Mathew Goggin (69) completing
an incredible late fight back to snatch a one shot lead at 12 under.
Goggin, who slipped back to eight under at one stage at the Hyatt Regency resort,
pulled out the shot of the day by planting his approach to the 18th green less than
a metre from the pin.
"It was a knock down six iron from 150 metres," said Goggin who dragged out three
birdies in his last four holes.
When putters were finally holstered, Goggin emerged with a slender lead over Ogilvy
(67-71-67) and last weekend's Masters champion Rod Pampling (70-67-68), both on 11
under.
Victorian Jarrod Lyle, who'd bravely defied the challengers all afternoon, cracked
in the searing heat and humidity late in his round.
He struggled to keep his rhythm, posting three bogeys in six holes, unable to match
Friday's course record equalling 63 with a one under 71.
Lyle ended a tough day on 10 under, the same score as Peter O'Malley who repeated
Friday's five under 67 to give himself a chance of a huge upset.
Ogilvy tried to play defensively into the 18th hole and came up with "my worst shot
of the day".
"Maybe it (the chip in) was good karma for missing all those putts during the day,"
he said.
Ogilvy seemed unimpressed when reminded that he was a non-winner at home.
It suggests his resolve will be steely to win a tournament steeped in so much
history and finally get the monkey off his back.
"It would just be nice not to hear the question," said Ogilvy when the "m" word was
mentioned after his round.
"Obviously I want to win at home.
"We play all around the world and you win tournaments all around the world ...
obviously I want to win at home.
It was veteran's day for a while as firstly Peter Senior, 49, who won the PGA at
Coolum in 2003, and then O'Malley, 43, threatened to upstage the young guns.
Senior (70-67-71) worked within two shots of the lead early on the back nine before
dropping a shot on his last hole to finish eight under and four behind Goggin.
Pampling has a chance to head to Sydney next week for the Australian Open chasing a
rare treble if he follows up his Masters win by collecting the Joe Kirkwood Cup on
Sunday.
