Tasmanian Simon Hawkes knew what he had to do on Saturday morning and he did it.
Using the morning’s conditions to his advantage, Hawkes carded a stunning eight-under 64 to move to 10-under for the Oates Vic Open championship.
It leaves him at the top of the leader board with the afternoon’s groups still to play.
“I kind of felt waking up that I got a bit lucky with the draw, and being a few back I kind of had to go and make a move this morning,” Hawkes said.
“It just happened today and it was good.”
After a solid start, Hawkes caught fire on the par-four sixth with that birdie starting an exceptional run which saw him make six birdies in a row.
Two more on the Beach course’s 15th and 16th saw him rocket up the leader board and into contention come Sunday’s final round.
“(My) iron play became really good after that (solid start). (I had) six in a row where I didn’t have a put longer than 10 feet,” Hawkes said.
“It was really good iron play today and I just managed to back it up with putter.
“You just need a few things to go your way. I had a few good bounces, rolled some putts in.
“The opportunities I got I took full advantage of.”
Hawkes, a relative unknown on the Australasian Tour, said plying his trade on the Pro Am circuit had given him an edge when it came to making the most of low scoring opportunities.
“I’ve learned how to do it (go low),” he said.
“Playing the Pro Am, the lower circuit stuff … if you want to make some money you have to shoot low scores every time you go out there.
“It’s a learnable skill, I think it’s something you get more comfortable with the more times you’re in that situation. If you’re seven under with a couple to go, I’m trying to get to nine rather than nerving up a bit.”
Hawkes won’t put any pressure on himself heading into Sunday’s final round.
“I have no idea what to expect tomorrow or anything like that. I’m going to go out and play golf tomorrow. However the cards fall is however the cards fall,” he said.