Kerry Mountcastle has shot a new course record on moving day at the Brian Green Property Group NZ Super 6’s to snatch the top seed heading into tomorrow’s super 6 medal match play.

Mountcastle was absolutely clinical around the Manawatu Golf Club layout firing a nine-under 63 to finish at 15-under for the tournament. He finished tied with overnight leader Mako Thompson but claims the top seed as he had the better third round.

Following opening rounds of 66 and 70 to be six-under, Mountcastle knew he needed a good round to solidify his spot in the top eight, let alone finishing atop the pack.

The Masterton golfer got off to a flying start making birdie at the first. He went on to birdie the third, fifth, and then made three in a row at the seventh, eighth, and ninth holes to close out his opening nine at an impressive six-under par to be nipping at Thompson’s heels.

Mountcastle didn’t stop there making another three birdies in a row on the 14th, 15th, and 16th holes to get to nine-under. He parred his way in to shoot the new course record and snatch the top spot away from Thompson who made bogey up the last.

He says golf had never felt easier than what it did out there today.

“Today was unreal. It was the easiest round of golf anyone could ever have really.

“I only got in trouble three times, but I managed to get out of those holes one-under and the rest of it was probably the best golf I’ve ever played,” Mountcastle explains.

The Hokowhitu layout is one of the tightest golf courses around and hitting fairways is paramount to shooting good scores, which was something that clicked for Mountcastle today.

He will play the winner of James Hydes and David Klein as he gets a bye for the first match tomorrow morning.

Thompson finished tied at the top with Mountcastle but will occupy the second seed position.

After carding rounds of 64 and 66 to be at 12-under through two rounds, he backed that up with a credible three-under 68 to share 15-under with Mountcastle.

He started the day with a birdie at the second followed by a bogey at the third. He made two further birdies at the seventh and ninth holes to make the turn at two-under and be two clear of a number of players who were making a charge.

Thompson began his closing nine with a bogey at the 10th but made birdies at the 11th, 14th, and 17th holes to hold a one-shot lead going into the 18th. However, an errand drive made him have to chip out from the trees which led to a bogey.

He says he hopes he’s made his presence felt and believes he could be the man to beat heading into tomorrow.

“I’m really happy with how I held my composure out there today with a number of players making a charge.

“It’ll be nice to have a sleep-in tomorrow morning. The game plan will be much the same and I hope I putt the lights out once again.

“With this format we’re almost back to square one and it’s anybody’s game again, but I know that I’m in some good form and if I keep playing the way I am I hope I’m a force tomorrow afternoon,” Thompson explains.

The battle for the top spot wasn’t the only drama on the course today. The race for the last medal match play place was just as exciting with four players needing to go to extra holes to decide who progresses.

Luke Toomey, Sam An, Jared Edwards, and Thomas Woods needed to go back to the 18th tee to determine who would be playing tomorrow.

An progressed with a birdie on the first extra hole to setup up a date with Taylor Gill.

The first match gets underway tomorrow at 8 o’clock.

For live scoring and tomorrow’s draw, click HERE

For further information, contact jason@golfnz.org

Scores after round 3 - Sat 27 Feb 2021

198 Kerry Mountcastle (Masterton) 66 70 62, Mako Thompson (Maraenui) 64 66 68

200 Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora) 69 67 64, Dongwoo Kang (PGA New Zealand) 67 67 66

202 Samuel Jones (Manaia) 69 68 65, Tyler Hodge (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 68 68 66, Josh Geary (PGA New Zealand) 70 64 68

203 Jordan Loof (PGA New Zealand) 70 67 66

204 Taylor Gill (PGA New Zealand) 68 72 64, Tyler Wood (Ngahinepouri) 66 72 66

205 Woonchul Na (PGA New Zealand) 69 72 64, Lachie McDonald (Marton) 70 68 67

206 Cameron Harlock (Royal Auckland and Grange) 70 69 67, Trevor Marshall (PGA New Zealand) 69 70 67, Caryn Khoo (P, Whitford Park) 67 69 70

207 James Hydes (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 69 70 68, David Klein (PGA New Zealand) 67 69 71, Tae Koh (Windross Farm Golf Course) 68 67 72

208 Mark Brown (PGA New Zealand) 66 72 70, Mason Lee (PGA New Zealand) 67 70 71, Darae Chung (Shandon) 70 65 73

209 Liam Finlayson (Feilding) 69 74 66

210 Sam Vincent (Riverside) 67 70 73

211 Jared Edwards (Royal Auckland and Grange) 73 70 68, Luke Toomey (PGA New Zealand) 74 68 69, Sam An (Titirangi) 71 68 72, Thomas Woods (Miramar) 73 66 72

212 Tara Raj (Wanganui) 73 71 68, Wenyung Keh (P) 69 73 70

213 Zachary May (Russley) 73 69 71, Joshua Bai (Akarana) 67 73 73, Sam Nichols (PGA New Zealand) 71 69 73

214 Jayden Ford (Judgeford) 71 75 68, Harry Bateman (PGA New Zealand) 71 73 70, Mark Hutson (PGA New Zealand) 67 76 71, Angus Findlay (Manawatu) 71 68 75

215 Trent Munn (PGA New Zealand) 69 73 73, Sam Marsters (Miramar) 74 67 74, Sam Reese (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 70 71 74

216 Matt McLean (Harewood) 77 72 67, Jordan Woodall (Cambridge) 72 75 69, Mitchell Kale (Tauranga) 70 75 71

217 Munchin Keh (P) 74 73 70, Zack Swanwick (Napier Inc.) 74 71 72, Timothy Berry (PGA New Zealand) 73 72 72, Ethan Jones (Manaia) 67 76 74, Momoka Kobori (PGA New Zealand) 71 71 75, Gareth Paddison (PGA New Zealand) 68 73 76

218 Kunaal Singh (Whitford Park) 78 71 69, Kaleb Idemaru (Manawatu) 74 74 70, Cameron Jones (Kiwi) 79 69 70, Charlie Smail (Walton) 74 71 73, Johnny Tynan (PGA New Zealand) 69 72 77