It’s a golf fan’s delight and a TV director’s nightmare for Sunday’s final round of the New South Wales Open Regional Qualifier in Bateman’s Bay.
The Catalina Club leaderboard features no fewer than 17 players within three shots of the lead after a withering first round today.
Melburnian Harry Goakes will lead the field out tomorrow at six under par after his round of 66, including eight birdies in his best round as a fledgling professional.
But there’s a tremendous melting pot of experience, potential and just pure talent right behind him with five players at five under after a pulsating day with birdies galore on a layout that was rewarding, yet penal on the wayward.
Joining Goakes in the final group will be an extraordinarily diverse triumvirate of emerging New South Welshman in emerging pro Riley Taylor, veteran journeyman Alexander Simpson and immensely talented amateur Jye Halls.
The well-documented talents of Lachlan Barker and James Grierson will share the second last group with Victorians Lachlan Aylen and Ben Henkel, one of the hottest players on the recent Queensland swing of the PGA’s national Adidas pro-am series.
A host of fancied names – including Younger, Tighe and Hawkes – also are within touch on a layout that suited Goakes down to the ground.
“I played really solid,” the former Royal Melbourne club champion said after turning 24 earlier this week.
“I drove really well and actually left a few putts out there because I didn’t have my pace early, but I gathered that together on the back nine, so all in all I’m pretty happy.”
Goakes made his first Australian PGA Tour start in the recent PNG Open but has played a swag of pro-am events having worked his way south after his Townsville debut.
His mindset is a well-balanced mix of immediate ambition and a realistic goal.
“My main goal is to get my full Aussie card. I learnt a lot coming through that Queensland run and I learnt that it’s not as easy as I once thought it might be – you have to make a lot of birdies to (succeed), but… I’m getting it sorted, I hope.
“I’m just really going to go for it (tomorrow).
“(A final group) is somewhere I haven’t been as a pro – it’s exciting and I’m going to embrace it.
“Looking at Wollongong (event earlier this week), there were a few cameras out there, so there’s no doubt the nerves will be up a little bit to start, but I’ll just focus on my game and see how we go.
“It’s an opportunity I hope I can convert.”
Taylor had his round to six under and rolling nicely when he three-putted the par three 14th hole “from nowhere”.
And while he was happy to sign for his 67, the Casino product felt like his round cooled instantly.
“It’s a step in the right direction, but I’m just a little frustrated after the way I was going,” he said.
“But I haven’t been very consistent lately, so I’m happy, particularly with the short game on courses like this.”
Simpson, 40, a proud product of Yass but based in Manly, was actually a member of junior NSW teams back around the turn of the century.
And while he’s been a pro for more than 15 years, he’s maintained his love of golf despite not having scaled professional heights – yet.
“I don’t have any tour status at the moment, just pro-ams and events like this, but I’m working on it and hope to get into the bigger events, obviously, this summer.
“I need things to play in if I’m going to keep trying, but I’ll get some work somewhere and save up for next time around if I can’t.
“The goal is still the same (as when I was younger). I’ve always wanted to play in Europe, but that’s the long term and I’m just enjoying the journey to it.”
Simpson said his age did not generate any time pressure.
“No, not at all. The (smaller) window at my age actually makes it easier, I’ve got a certain amount of time left and I’m just giving it a go.
“Hopefully that starts tomorrow.”
The leading group will tee off at midday, with the final round to be broadcast live on the NSW Open website from 11:55 AM.
