West Australian Brody Ninyette will take a one shot lead into the final round of the ISPS HANDA Perth International tomorrow.
Ninyette fired a 5-under 67 in the third round to be 8-under the card and just one shot clear of fellow West Australian Brett Rumford who roared into contention today setting a brilliant course record-equalling 65 around Lake Karrinyup Country Club.
Equalling Rumford today were Denmark’s JB Hansen (66) and South Korean former World Amateur Number One Jin Jeong (69).
In just his second year on the PGA Tour of Australasia, Ninyette said leading Australia’s richest tournament into the final round was a new experience.
“I've been playing well the last few days. It was good to hole a few putts and get myself into contention. It's a totally new experience but definitely exciting,” the 26-year-old said.
A European Tour co-sanctioned tournament, a win at the ISPS HANDA Perth International would provide many opportunities to Ninyette, including status on the Tour for the next two years. “It would be a whole new experience, getting out there and playing,” added Ninyette.
“I've only played these sorts of tournaments in Australia. So whoever comes over from America, I watch them a lot and see how they play the game and see how it's different. But definitely it would be amazing to see how everyone else does it as well.”
But it was Rumford who stole the show on day three in Perth, producing eight birdies and just a single dropped shot to delight the home crowd.
“It was a tough day,” said Rumford. “It was very blustery. We had some really heavy downpours, which made, at times, made the golf course very, very tough.
“I guess today was just a credit to myself. I feel as though maybe the last two or three years, my maturity in the game and out on the golf course has really stepped up and that showed today.
“If I were to win here, it would be the crème de la crème - winning in front of your home crowd, there would be nothing better than that, that's for sure.”
The third round of the ISPS HANDA Perth International was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the par-3 17th by New South Wales Professional Rohan Blizard. He achieved the feat hitting a 4iron 196 metres.
Moments later his feat was usurped by Victorian David McKenzie who aced the 192 metre par-3 8th using a 20 degree rescue club. For his efforts McKenzie won a Volkswagen Golf 90TSI.
“Before the 8th I wasn't doing too well but the hole in one was a fantastic kick start,” said McKenzie who is 2-under the card and tied 21st on the leaderboard.
“When I was teeing off the hole, the ball actually didn't go where I was aiming but it worked out alright. I didn't see it go in but I heard everyone yelling and screaming so I thought something had happened. When everyone went ‘up’ then I knew.”
Sitting at 6-under the card, two shots off the lead and rounding out the top-5 at the ISPS HANDA Perth International are Australians Jason Scrivener and James Nitties, Englishman Richard Finch and Ross Fisher as well as Swede Fred Andresson Hed.
While the battle for the Perth International will take centre stage on Sunday, the fight to see which players can keep their playing rights for 2014 will enter the final round with many of the players in need of a huge finish on the upper echelons of the leaderboard.
Finch and Andersson Hed are among those players tied for fifth place on six under (along with Ross Fisher) and need to finish fourth and third respectively to survive, while Joel Sjoholm, who needs second place or better, is just a one stroke further back alongside Tour winners Michael Hoey and Danny Willet.
Despite a disappointing third round 75 which saw him fall back to four under, second round leader Peter Hedblom is not quite dead yet. The Swede, who needs to win to keep his tour card, will need to produce the performance of a lifetime to claim the ultimate prize, while Oliver Fisher, currently tied 17th on three under needs to finish in the top seven to succeed.
Defending Champion Bo Van Pelt is lurking four shots of the lead at 4-under the card while countryman Dustin Johnson is tied 51st on the leaderboard.
South African Branden Grace had his best round of the tournament shooting 3-under 69 to be 1-under the card and tied 25th.
With US$2 million in prizemoney, the tournament is Australia’s richest tour event and is proudly supported by the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS), and the Western Australian Government, through Eventscorp.
The ISPS HANDA Perth International is also partnered with premium brands including Volkswagen, Crown Perth, The West Australian, the Seven Network and TAG Heuer.
Tickets start at $44 and are available at the gate. Children under 16 are free when accompanied by a paying adult and there are single day and weekend pass options available. Tickets are available on the gate on each day of the tournament.
For event information, news, live scores and tee times and updates visit perthinternational.comand follow the ISPS HANDA Perth International on Facebookwww.facebook.com/PerthInternationalGolf and Twitter @PerthIntl
The final round of the ISPS HANDA Perth International gets underway at 7.55am Perth local time with the final group out at 9.45am. For all round 3 results and round 4 tee times please visit perthinternational.com/Draws-Results
Media contact: Janine Pittaway, ISPS HANDA Perth International Media Manager, 0418 911 796 or[email protected]
For high res images please visit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u8ts9jbfj2h92p7/LmKq3vsNCs
For interview transcript downloads please visit: https://perthinternational.com/Media/Media-Transcripts