Round 3 at NZPGA Championships has produced a memorable moving day highlighted by Josh Geary’s final hole Eagle putt.
Ryan Fox maintained his position at the top of the leader board on 15 under following a solid 3 under to share the lead with Geary. “Really frustrating to be honest, I felt like I played decent enough. Through the turn made a couple of sloppy mistakes. Good to birdie the last to tie with Josh after a tough back 9” Fox made of his day.
Geary by his own admission missed a few early on but like in his early rounds made a late charge and his Eagle on the 18th not only confirmed his share of the lead but lifted the strong gallery crowd to its feet.
Geary describing his day “Strange day, I wasn't really playing well early, nothing was really happening. I just said to myself hang in there it was nice for a walk-in eagle putt on the last, I felt like I kind of deserved it after a few burned the edges.”
Taylor Gill produced the round of the day with brilliant 7 under to move five places up the leader board to third on 14 under and into the last group for tomorrow’s final round. “Today was good, I really just tried to enjoy the day. I played really well I'm not going to lie. The course was pure, and the weather was mint.” Gill reflected of his day. A key to Gill’s success today was his driving, 20 yards further than the previous two days, based on the Institute of Golf Statistics being generated throughout the week, along with his 4 from 4 scrambling when missing greens today.
Exciting amateur James Hyde’s will start the day two shots back on 13 Under Par after a 69 today and he will be joined tomorrow by Blake Collyer, the leading Australian, and Tae Koh, who’s form leading into the event means he can’t be ruled out.
Another big mover in Round 3 was defending champion Kazuma Kobori jumping 14 places to share 8th on the leader board on 10 under, following his bogey free 66.
Momoka Kobori, the leading female, had a fine day to share 13th on the leader board with a 3rd Round 4 under 68 and will be a good watch in the final round if she can reproduce this on Sunday.
“Today was a really smooth day for the most part for me. Had great company with Harry and my brother and we were blessed with the weather.” Momoka Kibori said of her day “It's probably the 2nd or 3rd time Ive played with my brother now and since males and females can play in the same tournament now it gives me opportunity to play with him.”
Auckland with Fox and Koh continued the dominance on the Regionals Teams board with a very strong 27 under. Waikato and Te Puke share second on 21 under and Taylor Gills performance today sparked the big team’s movement with Northland up four places to be in striking distance of a top three finish in the inaugural team’s race.
The final round for Sunday is shaping to be the golfing highlight of 2021. In the years biggest tournament for New Zealand and the top of the leader board all containing strong players who can all produce stellar final round performances, it will make for a wonderful last day in what has been a tremendous occasion for the locals in Te Puke and the golfing communities throughout the country.
The final days live leader board will be on PGA NZ home page https://www.pga.org.nz and the Live Coverage will be on Sky TV Chanel 50 3:00pm to 5:00pm.