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 2006 GTNZ Olex Taranaki Open Thursday 28 – Sunday 1 October, 2006 Brown grabs advantage in GTNZ Olex Taranaki Open 30 September 2006 Wellington professional Mark Brown will take a four shot lead into tomorrow's final round of the $40,000 GTNZ Olex Taranaki Open in New Plymouth. Brown, chasing his first four-round victory as a professional, fired a four-under par 68 today to move to 12-under after 54 holes at New Plymouth Golf Club today. He is four shots clear of Christchurch-based professional Mathew Holten who is on eight-under after shooting today's low score of five-under 67. Joint overnight leader Josh Geary (Tauranga), New Zealand's leading amateur, is in third place on seven-under. Professionals Brad Shilton (Te Awamutu) and Clarke Osborne (Auckland) are a further shot back in a share of fourth place. Professionals fill out the rest of the leaderboard with Hamish Robertson (Palmerston North) sharing sixth place on five-under with Australian-based Martin Pettigrew and Michael Hendry (Auckland), who has recently returned from the world university championships. Local professional Grant Moorhead made a run up the leaderboard early in his round but had to settle for an even-par 72 after a lost ball on the back nine and is eight shots off the lead in a share of ninth place. Brown, who recently resigned his position as golf development manager for Wellington golf to return to playing fulltime, was thrilled with his effort today. "It's my best ball-striking of the tournament and for some time," Brown said. "I let myself go and was swinging quite freely. "I won the Taranaki Open before it was a GTNZ event and was beaten on the last hole two years ago. "I'm not going to think about that right now. I know that I will need to shoot birdies out there tomorrow and stay positive."Brown mixed an eagle with a bogey to turn one-under today but made his move with three birdies in the last four holes to give him an important buffer for tomorrow. Holten, who flies out tomorrow to return to the Asian PGA Tour, enjoyed four birdies and an eagle with just one dropped shot today. He had a brilliant birdie, par, eagle finish to push him to second place. Geary had a nightmare start today, dropping four shots in the first three holes including a double bogey at the first hole. "It makes you want to cry when you start like that," Geary said. "But I had to put it out of my mind and from then in I made some good birdies although missed a short putt on the 17th. "I was loose off the tee today so I will go out and fix that on the practice fairway and see if we can make a run tomorrow." Fourteen-year-old Ji Soo Oh from nearby Westown club took out the women's title finishing on two-over, two shots clear of Sarah Nicholson (Hutt)) with her fellow New Zealand representative a shot back on five-over. The 10 females in the field competed over 54 holes, as they travel to Christchurch tomorrow to prepare for next week's Interprovincial tournament. Taranaki players Robbie Sim and Bernie Ropiha along with Wellington professional Brad Carter won the playoff among five players for the final three spots in the field for tomorrow's final round. Full scores www.gtnz.org For further information: |
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