Date: January 31, 2009
Author: Sportal

Laycock, Hall lead Vic Open

Victorian pair Scott Laycock and Ashley Hall lead the way in the Victorian Open with one round remaining at the Spring Valley Golf Club in Melbourne. Laycock hit a two-under-par third-round 69 to join Hall at the top of the leaderboard on eight-under after he could only manage a one-over 72. Another Victorian duo in Craig Spence and Craig Scott sit one shot adrift of the pacesetters on seven-under along with New South Welshman Rohan Blizzard. Laycock is confident of his prospects on Sunday. “I feel good heading out tomorrow. I feel comfortable with the way I am swinging it and hitting it so we&aposll see how we go,” said Laycock. “I think I was five behind at one stage. It was a different wind today. It turned the full 180 so a lot of the holes played a lot differently, longer clubs in, a couple of the par fives straight downwind … but I&aposm pretty happy with how I went.” “It&aposs a fabulous golf course. The last time I played here was in 1994 at the Australasian Tour School.” Overnight leader Heath D&aposAltera struggled with the blustery conditions, dropping a whopping five shots to slip down to equal seventh on five-under. New Zealander Gareth Paddison is in outright sixth spot on six-under thanks to a four-under-par 67 in round three. D&aposAltera joins Andre Stolz, Brad Andrews, Aaron Townsend and Cameron Percy in a tie for seventh spot.