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 Newsroom Taranaki Open 2005 Hawkes Bay amateur golfer Doug Holloway signaled his intention to turn professional in the strongest way as he extended his lead after the third round of the Taranaki Open in New Plymouth today. Holloway fought back from a slow start to shoot a third round 70 for a 54-hole total 11-under par 205 in fine but windy conditions on the Ngamotu Links course. The New Zealand representative has a three shot lead over New Plymouth amateur Troy Ropiha and Waikato professional Guy Penrose, with a further shot back to first round leader Josh Carmichael and fellow North Harbour professional Steve Gordon. New Plymouth professional Grant Moorhead managed an even-par 72 to drop back to sixth place on six-under par, one shot ahead of Wanganui amateur Riki Kauika. Holloway, who turns 22 next week, made two double bogeys in the first nine to drop from the lead, before a tap-in birdie at the par-5 10th that led to four more birdies on the back nine. I was quite nervous all day until I hit my second on to the 10th green. Then I settled back down and played well," Holloway said. "I probably put too much pressure on myself today and starting thinking too far ahead." The 2004 Malaysian Amateur champion, who won the Cambridge Classic two months ago, will head to the United States next week with the New Zealand team for The Spirit International. He then plans to turn professional, joining fellow amateurs Brad Iles and Mathew Holten at the Asian Tour qualifying school early next year. The big move came from the lanky lefthander Penrose, who birdied the last four holes to seal his six-under 66 and move to eight-under and a share of second place. Penrose, who turned 25 last month, is enjoying life on the professional circuit, playing on the Troppo and Von Nida Tours in Australia before returning for the final three tournaments for the New Zealand Order of Merit, where he currently lies in fourth place. "I’m loving it. And I’m playing well here and hitting it really smoothly," the left-hander said. "I’m not trying to make any mistakes and keep out of trouble and then waiting for the putts to drop." He birdied three in a row to turn three-under, bogied the 13th before making four birdies in succession to finish his round. Titleist Academy player Ropiha mixed the brilliant with some indifferent play to stay firmly in the hunt. He made two eagles, including wedging in from 80m at the par-5 10th, among four dropped shots and two birdies. "It was a big untidy today," Ropiha said. "The eagles made the difference. I will need to be more solid tomorrow." First round leader Carmichael made the early move today to grab the lead after both Holloway and Moorhead dropped shots early. The challenge from the North Harbour player faded with a double bogey before he finished with two birdies coming home to stay in the hunt. Gordon made his move with six birdies and one dropped shot for 67, the day’s low score, to move into contention. Moorhead made an early move with three birdies in the first nine to take the lead but his run unexpectedly faded with three dropped shots coming home. The leading female is New Zealand representative Natasha Krishna with an even par 72 for a three round total of two-over par, and 22nd place overall. He 17-year-old is two shots ahead of Rotorua’s Jackie Shin with a further two shots to New Plymouth’s Sally Choi. Former New Zealand hockey international Arthur Parkin (Auckland) birdied the second extra hole to claim the last spot for the final round after five players tied for the 60th place.
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