Keita Nakajima leads the Men’s division of the Australian Master of the Amateurs after three rounds at Royal Melbourne Golf Course.
The Japanese representative held his nerve to card a two-under-par 70 as his playing partners in the final group, American Matthew Wollf and the Australian Golf Club’s Justin Warren stumbled over the closing holes.
Wolff, who led by three at one stage during the round, could only manage an even-par 72, while Warren, who found the trees a couple of times on the back nine carded a four over 76.
Two shots behind Nakajima is the American World Number one, Justin Suh, who carded an impressive six under par 66, while Victorian Andre Lautee moved up 11 places into a tie for second alongside Suh after a 68.
The best of the NSW contingent is Newcastle’s Blake Windred, who jumped 11 spots into a tie for 5th after a two-under-par 70.
Windred was pleased with his score in the conditions and is feeling confident heading into tomorrow’s final round. He said a low score is close and he has the experience to deliver.
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“Anything is possible when my putter gets hot, and the way I’m hitting it at the moment, anything could happen.
“I’ll draw on a few things from the NSW Open.
“If it (my putter) gets hot and the floodgates open, there’s no limit to what score I could shoot."
Windred said a victory this week would be a great way to start what is shaping up as his final year in the amateur ranks
“It will be a good way to start 2019. This is going to be a watershed year in my goal, so I am treating every post as a potential winning post.
“I would love to start the year with a win, but you can’t control what the boys at the top of leader board do.
“This is going to be a big year for me, so hopefully this will lead into the beginning of a successful transition into a pro career in November,” he added.