2005 Johnnie Walker Classic - Round 3: Adam Scott opens six shot lead

World number 10 Adam Scott tightened his grip in the US$2.35 million Johnnie Walker Classic by opening up a six shot lead when the third round was suspended late Saturday.

The talented Aussie cruised to 19-under-par for the tournament at Pine Valley Golf Resort and Country Club, negotiating 11 holes of his round in four-under before officials halted play at 6.50pm due to darkness. Earlier in the day, Scott maintained his irrepressible form to add a six-under-par 66 to his course record opening 63 for a four-shot halfway lead on 15-under-par 129.

American journeyman Gary Rusnak and Sweden 's Henrik Stenson were trailing on Scott's heels in tied second place on 13-under-par. Rusnak, who contemplated quitting the Asian Tour because of indifferent form, gave himself a shot at his biggest pay cheque at Asia 's richest tournament with a performance that surprised even himself.

A further stroke back was Retief Goosen, ranked fifth in the world and the 2002 Johnnie Walker Classic winner, but the South African star conceded that he was playing only for second place. Compatriot Richard Sterne and Steven O'Hara of Scotland were tied with Goosen on 12-under through 11 and 13 holes respectively.

Asia 's challenge in the premier event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, European and Australasian Tours was left to Prayad Marksaeng. The Thai was amongst 28 players who completed their third rounds when play was stopped at 6.50pm local time. But his bogey-free 66 and 11-under-par total was eight shots behind the runaway leader.

Scott is a proven front-runner as his previous wins in Qatar , Scotland and Sweden were recorded after putting himself in pole position. He said: "It was a long day but a good day. I did what I had to do because I knew the guys behind were going to make birdies if there was no wind. Hopefully, we can get some nice conditions tomorrow and everything keeps rolling."

Although Goosen has written off his own chances of a second Johnnie Walker Classic title, Scott said the smooth-swinging South African could be his main threat. "He's found his stride and seems at the moment to be the danger man," said Scott.

Rusnak, playing alongside Scott, birdied his first two, dropped bogeys on the fourth and seventh before bouncing back with birdies on 10 and 11 before play was halted. The American, a regular in Asia , said: "Adam is hitting the ball really well and making everything. He's very hard to catch. I'll just try to do the best that I can tomorrow."

Goosen, who stopped play on the 12th green, reckons he has left himself with too big a gap. "I'm too far behind to win the tournament. I can just try my best and see if I can finish up there in a good position. It was getting a bit dark and I made bogey on 11."

Earlier on Saturday, Scott returned in the morning to shoot an accomplished 66, despite dropping his first bogey of the week. His two-day total was the lowest on the Asian Tour this season and also matched the tournament's 36-hole record posted by Ernie Els when the Big Easy won in 2003.

The 24-year-old Scott said: "It's been a great start. I was pleased to go out there and keep my form going even though it's been kind of a staggered couple of rounds. It was perfect opportunity for me to go out this morning and put a little distance," said Scott, winner of eight titles, including the 2004 Players Championship – the unofficial fifth major – in his meteoric career.

It has been a memorable first visit to China so far for Scott, who served as a bartender in the Johnnie Walker's charity drive on Thursday night and has even visited the Great Wall of China twice due to the various delays caused by strong gusts that disrupted the first round and led to the field playing catch-up.

But his thoughts are firmly on getting his hands on the Johnnie Walker Classic trophy, which past winners include luminaries such as Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Fred Couples and Tiger Woods. "I seem to have played very well from the front. I think every one of my wins has been from in front so hopefully the trend continues," said Scott.

One of the men chasing the in-form Aussie has turned out to be a surprise name rather than one of the many top stars who are competing here. The 42-year-old Rusnak contemplated quitting his career on the Asian Tour after falling to 84th place on the Order of Merit.

"I'm very pleased. I've been playing poorly this season. I haven't had much confidence in my game and I have kind of been debating whether even to continue playing. I've got two young kids, and they kind of cry every time I leave home to come here, so it's just hard. I think it's been a combination of my family and that kind of thing," said Rusnak, who has 10 career top-10s, including one runner-up finish, in his six previous seasons in Asia .

"Why have I stuck it out here? I don't want to get a job," said the Florida-based Rusnak, who had a short spell on the US PGA Tour in 1996.

Prayad, who was a member of the victorious Asian team at last week's Visa Dynasty Cup against Japan , made up ground with a six-birdie third round to be Asia 's best performer at tied seventh place. "My feel was pretty good this afternoon and I hit lots of shots close to the pins. I don't think I have a chance of catching the leader, so I'll aim for a top-three finish. After last week's win over Japan , it gave us a bit of a boost and I'm playing good this week," said the Thai.

April 23, 2005

Bookmark page with:

Return to Top of Page