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 Newsroom Taranaki Open US-based professional Tim Wilkinson has seen his chances blown away in the wind on the third day of the Olex Taranaki Golf Open in New Plymouth today. Wilkinson, the Manawatu professional, moved to a share of the lead early on the third round before his tournament chances were dealt a blow after a disastrous quadruple bogey in the blustery conditions at the Ngamotu links course. Wellington professional Mark Brown produced a superb effort with four birdies and one dropped shot on his way to a joint third round low score of three-under par 69. This moved him to three-under 213 and a share of the lead with overnight leader Ryan Haywood (Canterbury). Haywood recovered from three early dropped shots to finish with a three-over par 75 to remain in contention, with the pair four sots clear of Mount Maunganui's Hamish Robertson, the leading amateur. The Olex Taranaki Open is the first Golf Tour of New Zealand events, a new initiative founded by top Kiwi golfer Greg Turner, which provides competition for New Zealand's elite players, both amateur and professional. Thirty professionals are vying for the $40,000 prizemoney, with both the New Zealand women's and men's teams competing as a final shakedown before next month's Espirito Santo and Eisenhower World Teams Championships in Puerto Rico. The amateurs made their move today led by 19-year-old New Zealand representative Riki Kauika and former national player Mark Smith, who share fourth place at two-over par 218 after 54 holes. Kauika, the Wellington-based Wanganui player, shot a strong two-under par 70 including four birdies and two bogeys while Smith, the Bay of Plenty No 1, went one shot better with five birdies and two bogeys. The other player to shoot three-under 69 was Auckland professional James Kupa. Local professional Grant Moorhead is in sixth place on three-over par 219 after his third consecutive round of 73, a shot clear of professionals Tony Christie (Canterbury) and Scott Hill (Auckland). The leading females are national junior representative Natasha Krishna and Taranaki No 1 Catherine Bristow on 232, 14-over par for three rounds, ahead of Espirito Santo representatives Penny Newbrook and Sarah Nicholson. Many expected pre-tournament favourite Wilkinson to make his move today, but not down the leaderboard. His slide did not stop with his quadruple bogey, as the lefthander dropped shots continually to finish with a catastrophic 10-over par 82 to drop to seven-over par for the tournament and a share of 17th place. Haywood, who has won three tournaments in the Pacific islands since turning professional in November, will have a fight on the final day with Brown. The Wellington professional gave up life as a touring professional last year to take up a fulltime position as a golf development manager for New Zealand Golf in the Wellington region. He has overcome illness, and also a quadruple bogey in his first round to grab a share of the lead as he chases his first 72-hole professional victory in New Zealand. Sixty-six players qualified for the final round, with New Plymouth teenager Mattie Blackbourn winning the final spot in a six-way playoff. It was originally seven but Opunake dairy farmer Aaron Langton could not return to New Plymouth because of milking duties.
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