Perth’s Ben Ferguson has charged into contention at the St Andrews Links Trophy in Scotland.
The West Australian tyro is one of three Aussies to survive the cut at the home of golf and will share a third round with Victorian David Micheluzzi tonight, the pair tied at six under and just one out of the lead at the halfway mark.
Wodonga’s Zach Murray is also handy at two under and will be out early for the 36-hole final day on the Old Course.
And when the players return to golf’s most famous real estate, it will be with an extra fondness for Ferguson, a member at The Vines.
The WA state representative is not only fresh off a four-under-par 68 in the second round after his opening 70 at nearby Jubilee, he’s back where he was runner-up in the St Andrews Boys’ Open in 2014 after a string of great match play results.
Ferguson, who’ll turn 19 next week, poured in five birdies around the Old Course, marred by just one bogey on the short eighth hole, to pull within reach of Irish leader John Ross Galbraith.
Galbraith will be in the last group out for the third round alongside German Claudio Consul, who reached the match play phase of the Australian Amateur Championship in January.
And they’ll be behind Ferguson and Micheluzzi, who overcame a double-bogey on the 12th to shoot a fine 71 after his opening 67.
Micheluzzi is in hot form having led into the back nine of last week’s Scottish Strokeplay Championship and is surely on the verge of a big win having put his name forward on so many occasions in the past 18 months.
Murray fired a 73 on day two after his opening 69 to leave him two under, safely in the top 45 who set a cracking pace at even par or better.
Among those unlucky to have Sunday off are another West Australian, Haydn Barron who pushed hard in the closing holes and found a birdie on the 18th only to come up one shot shy at one over after his 71.
Will Heffernan, Min Woo Lee, Harrison Endycott and Blake Collyer all finished at two over, Travis Smyth at three over, Shae Wools-Cobb at four over, New South Welshmen James Grierson and Dylan Perry at five over, Blake Windred and Kyle Michel at six over, Charlie Dann at 10 over and Alex Henderson at 16 over.