Stolz takes 2 point lead into final day

Andre Stolz will take a two-point lead into the final round of the ANZ Championship at The Lakes in Sydney after the eight-point lead he built during today’s round was pegged back by Craig Parry.

With five birdies in his first 15 holes, Stolz had built a big points lead under the modified stableford format. But strong back nines from Parry, Sweden’s Richard Johnson and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher reeled the overnight leader back in.

Stolz may live to regret his second shot on the Par-5 17th: a wayward 3-wood that ended up in the water. While Parry drilled a birdie, Stolz’s bogey dropped him back to +39, where he remains overnight.

Parry may have conceded Stolz a point by bogeying the last, but with the two due to go head-to-head tomorrow, Stolz may need a bigger buffer to hold off the boy from Sunshine.

Parry looked to be struggling early, missing several short putts and slumping to three consecutive bogeys on the front nine. But five birdies in six holes helped ‘Popeye’ to pick up 10 points before he dropped back to +37 for the tournament with his bogey at the last.

Johnson, who had a good round going already, birdied 13 and eagled 14 to pick up seven points in two holes. He then birdied 17 to finish his round +16, the best of the day.

His 66 off-the-stick was actually the equal-best round of the day, but more birdies from the Swede meant he gathered more points than either Nick O’Hern or Peter O’Malley

Gallacher, meanwhile, surged up the leaderboard with five birdies in seven holes on the back nine. Gallacher’s only blemish came at the 3rd, a bogey, but with seven birdies, he picked up +13 today to also get to +35.

Scott Laycock is in outright fifth after making steady progress today. After a sluggish start, Laycock finished +7 today and +34 overall with consecutive birdies on 14 and 15th. Dropped points for two bogeys in the last three holes were negated by a birdie on the 17th and the 30-year-old remains in contention.

Rocketing to outright sixth was Peter O’Malley who stormed into contention with a great round today.

"I didn't miss any short putts, holed a few nice ones, the putter's feeling good and the greens are a good holing speed," O’Malley said.

O’Malley’s round came after two consistent +9 efforts over the last two days. His +15 round, which included five birdies and an eagle has him perched just off the pace again for the final round.

O’Hern also garnered 15 points for his round today after a 66 off-the-stick. With five birdies and a bogey on the front nine, O’Hern set the platform for a great round, which he capitalised on with three birdies on the way in. He is in outright seventh on +32.

O’Hern said he’s surprised to see himself so far up the leaderboard.

“I thought it would suit the longer hitters but I seem to be enjoying it,“ he said, “I’m not hitting the ball that great this week but I am hitting the bad shots straight.”

South African Trevor Immelman, playing with Parry and Stolz in the leading group, struggled early but three consecutive birdies on the back nine looked have got his round moving. But he like Parry, faltered at the final hole, dropping a point and back to equal seventh with O’Hern.

First-round leader Jonathan Lomas played some great golf today, but let himself down with his short putting. Lomas picked up nine points today after an eagle, five birdies and four bogeys.

He is in equal ninth at +30 with countryman David Lynn, Kiwi veteran Greg Turner and Spaniard Carlos Rodiles, whose round today typified the aggressive nature of this format.

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