A clutch birdie on 15 has given overnight leader Bryden Macpherson a one-shot lead heading into the final stages of the Golf Challenge NSW Open here at Concord.
Just a shot back is Gold Coast youngster Elvis Smylie who attempting to break through for his maiden Australasian PGA win as players come through the final three holes.
Smylie has had six birdies and one bogey to be at -17 and five-under for his round.
A further two shots back in South Australian Jack Thompson who relinquished the lead with back-to-back bogeys at 12 and 13.
More to come …
Related Links
- Leaderboard
- 3.25 pm: Comeback King Elvis making a move
- 2.40 pm: Jumpin’ Jack back in the lead
- 2.15 pm: Dale’s bustin’ down the door
- 1.40 pm: Thompson moves into the lead
- 12.40 pm: Three-way tie at the top
- 11.45 am: Leaders away at Concord
- 7.45 am: Who’ll lift the Kel Nagle Cup
3.50 pm: Bryden bounces back late
A long-range eagle has given Bryden Macpherson a one-shot lead as the players head into the final stages of the Golf Challenge NSW Open at Concord.
Elvis Smylie is at -16 while jack Tompson has dropped to -15 after bogies on the 12th and 13th.
3.25 pm: Comeback King Elvis Making a Move
Elvis Smylie has dropped back-to-back birdies to get to within a shot of the leader, Thompson.
Smylie, 18, has birdied the 11th and the 12th. The latter after an exquisite bunker shot from the left hand front bunker.
Michael Sim and overnight leader Brayden Macpherson are two back of the leader, while Hart, Williamson and Windred will need to begin their charge if they are to have any chance of lifting the Kel Nagle Cup.
2.40 pm: Jumpin’ Jack back in the lead
South Australian youngster Jack Thompson is closing in on his maiden Australasian PGA Tour win as he heads through the back nine with a two-shot lead.
Thompson is at -17 for the championship, two clear of overnight leader Bryden Macpherson.
Sydney’s Dale Williamson has dropped three shots back after a disastrous double bogey on the par-five 11th. He had been traveling beautifully until that point with four birdies through his first 10 holes. Â
Elvis Smylie is -2 for his round so far and three back, whilst Order of Merit winner Brad Kennedy is at -13 and four-under in his final round.
2.15 pm: Dale’s bustin’ down the door
The final nine here at Concord will be a battle royale as the pack chases down Jack Thomspon and Dale Williamson who share the lead at -16.
A swag of quality players are within striking distance though, including overnight leader Bryden Macpherson who birdied the eighth to be just a shot back.
Michael Sim and Elvis Smylie are both a further shot back (-14), whilst Order of Merit winner Brad Kennedy also looms as a threat at -13 and -4 for this round so far.
Seven players are at -12 as the final groups make the turn.
1.40 pm: Thompson moves into the lead
South Australia’s Jack Thompson holds a one-shot lead in the Golf Challenge NSW Open midway through the front nine.
The 23-year-old had back-to-back birdies on holes two and three to move one shot clear of Sydneysider Dale Williamson.
Overnight leader Bryden Macpherson has had a nervous start to his campaign, bogeying the third after a wayward drive, and he has now dropped back into a share of third at -14.
Wunderkind Elvis Smylie has moved into a share of third with three birdies and bogey on his front nine as he hunts for the Kel Nagle Cup – his first win as a professional.
Shellharbour’s Jordan Zunic is making a big move, seven under through 12 holes, which includes eagle on the par-five 11th to be equal 8th.
12.40 pm: Three-way tie at the top
Nathan Barbieri and Jack Thompson have joined their playing partner Macpherson on top of the leaderboard early in the final round of the of the Golf Challenge NSW Open.
Playing in the group in front, Dylan Perry was also on top of the leaderboard after back to back birdies, however, a bogey on the par four third has seen him drop back into a tie for fourth alongside Dale Williamson.
Steven Jeffress has found some late form, fretting it to six under for the day and nine under for the tournament with four holes to play.
11.45 am: Leaders away at Concord
The Leaders are on course in the final round here at Concord Golf Club.
Nathan Barbieri, Jack Thompson and Bryden Macpherson got their round underway at 11.45 am with Barbieri and Thompson ripping drives straight at the green on the short par four.
Macpherson, the tournament leader and last to hit, pulled his tee shot left and has his work cut out getting up and down.
Dale Williamson form the Northern Beaches is an early mover, making birdies on his opening two holes to get to 14 under and in a tie for second.
Josh Armstonrg has a round going, four under for the day and is now at nine under and into 17th place.
7.45 am: Who’ll lift the Kel Nagle Cup
It’s Championship Sunday here at Concord Golf Club, and the big question is, who will lift the Kel Nagle Cup?
There’s no shortage of contenders either, all with unbridled talent and all with the belief to win.
Bryden Macpherson is the man who has slept on the lead. Already a winner on this year’s PGA Tour of Australasia, the win would confirm the talent the Victorian displayed as an exceptional amateur who claimed the British Amateur.
Chasing the Victorian is a pair of young guns just months into their pro career, Nathan Barbieri, a standout with the Golf NSW High-Performance Program and South Australian Jack Thompson. Barbieri is a passionate golfer, whose emotions swing freely while playing his version of golf’s beautiful game. Thompson, on the other hand walks with an air of confidence which oozes belief.
There are plenty of others in the chasing pack too. The Hunter Valley’s Dylan Perry, establishing himself on the Japanese Tour until COVID struck and forced to wash cars for a chunk of last year has moved to within two of the lead at 13 under.
At 12 under is a bunch of guns, led by wonder Elvis Smylie, who crafted a fine 64 – including only the 9th albatross in the tour’s history, Andrew Martin, winner of the TPS Bonnie Doon, Dale Williamson, the surprise packet from Sydney’s northern beaches and West Australian star Michael Sim.
The weather is great. It’s going to be another cracking day, so come on out to Concord, or if you can’t, tune into FOX Sports, Kayo or Sky Sports New Zealand from 12.00pm AEDST to catch all the action.
