Richard is made of Sterne-r stuff
Goosen: Has an unhappy spells in the trees and sand Picture: ReutersRetief Goosen of South Africa lines up his putt on the first hole at the Johnnie Walker Classic golf tournament in Phuket March 3, 2007. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND)
Sunday, March 4, 2007
THE Johnnie Walker Classic had a new leader for the third day running yesterday after South African Richard Sterne fired another impressive eight-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead into the final day.
Sterne completed a flawless round with eight birdies for the second straight day to go 13-under and move ahead of Englishman Oliver Wilson at the Blue Canyon Country Club.
The 25-year-old said he was surprised to be top of the leaderboard and admitted he was preparing for an early exit after carding a sluggish 75 on the opening day.
"I'd actually brought my bags to the golf course on Friday because the flight was at 8pm. It's a bit of a change-around," Sterne told a news conference.
"Not dropping shots gives me confidence going into the last day. I'm excited, I'm playing well, anything can happen. I just need to make sure I handle it well and take whatever comes."
Wilson started well with three birdies on the front nine but surrendered his lead after bogeying the taxing 17th hole to fall one stroke behind.
"I got off to a good start but it fell apart on the back nine," he said. "It should be a good round on Sunday."
Big-hitting Anton Haig of South Africa slipped down to third on 11-under with his third round 70, six strokes adrift of his Day Two score.
Compatriot and former champion Retief Goosen admitted he was all but out of the running after unhappy spells in the trees and the sand left him with four bogeys and a score of 72.
"I didn't play well enough it's as simple as that," he told reporters. "It's pretty much gone for me. That 72 has got me nowhere."
Two-time Johnnie Walker Classic winner Ernie Els also looked to have blown his chance of another title, despite making up for lost ground after a poor showing on the first two days.
He fired a 67 to go six under for the tournament, leaving him with a mountain to climb with a day remaining.
"The first day I went out in 39, and from then on it was a battle with my back against the wall," he said.
"I played really good today. I've just got to play my game, drive it well. I could have been a little closer."
Australian Adam Scott's misery continued when he carded a 70 to leave him 10 shots off the lead. The World No 4 made six birdies but his four bogeys on the back nine kept him well out of the running for a second title.Reuters
Sterne completed a flawless round with eight birdies for the second straight day to go 13-under and move ahead of Englishman Oliver Wilson at the Blue Canyon Country Club.
The 25-year-old said he was surprised to be top of the leaderboard and admitted he was preparing for an early exit after carding a sluggish 75 on the opening day.
"I'd actually brought my bags to the golf course on Friday because the flight was at 8pm. It's a bit of a change-around," Sterne told a news conference.
"Not dropping shots gives me confidence going into the last day. I'm excited, I'm playing well, anything can happen. I just need to make sure I handle it well and take whatever comes."
Wilson started well with three birdies on the front nine but surrendered his lead after bogeying the taxing 17th hole to fall one stroke behind.
"I got off to a good start but it fell apart on the back nine," he said. "It should be a good round on Sunday."
Big-hitting Anton Haig of South Africa slipped down to third on 11-under with his third round 70, six strokes adrift of his Day Two score.
Compatriot and former champion Retief Goosen admitted he was all but out of the running after unhappy spells in the trees and the sand left him with four bogeys and a score of 72.
"I didn't play well enough it's as simple as that," he told reporters. "It's pretty much gone for me. That 72 has got me nowhere."
Two-time Johnnie Walker Classic winner Ernie Els also looked to have blown his chance of another title, despite making up for lost ground after a poor showing on the first two days.
He fired a 67 to go six under for the tournament, leaving him with a mountain to climb with a day remaining.
"The first day I went out in 39, and from then on it was a battle with my back against the wall," he said.
"I played really good today. I've just got to play my game, drive it well. I could have been a little closer."
Australian Adam Scott's misery continued when he carded a 70 to leave him 10 shots off the lead. The World No 4 made six birdies but his four bogeys on the back nine kept him well out of the running for a second title.Reuters
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