A dominant third round has seen Callan O&aposReilly charge into the lead at the New South Wales PGA Championship on Saturday. Australian amateur O&aposReilly, 22, produced an impressive six-under third round of 66 at the Mt Broughton Golf and Country Club to be 12 under for the tournament, one stroke ahead of compatriot Matthew Stieger. O&aposReilly looked good from the outset, opening with three consecutive birdies before turning for home at five under. The youngster posted another two birdies at the 10th and 14th holes, with O&aposReilly&aposs only blemish coming on the 15th as he posted a bogey. Having seen his friend Jake Higginbottom win the New Zealand Open last weekend, O&aposReilly decided he wouldn&apost mind a piece of the action as well. “Jake&aposs a great player and I&aposve played a lot of golf with him,” said O&aposReilly. “Seeing a guy like him go out and win like that makes you think why can&apost I?” With the winner of this tournament gaining automatic qualification for the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship, O&aposReilly is more than aware he faces some stiff competition in the last round, especially as overnight leader Stieger is lurking just one shot behind him on 11 under. Stieger found himself at one over during his third round following a bogey on the 14th, but managed to stay right in touch with O&aposReilly with birdies on the 16th and 18th as he signed off on a one-under 71 score on Saturday. Another Australian, Daniel Nisbet, is two strokes further back after posting a four-under 68 on Saturday, one that comprised seven birdies and three bogeys. New Zealand&aposs Ryan Fox (71) is a further stroke back at eight under for the tournament, level with Swede Thomas Petersson, whose early scores of 67 and 68 were negated somewhat by a one-over 73 in his third round. Australian Adam Stephens is also on eight under, while New Zealander Pieter Zwart (71) and Aussie Marcus Cain (70) are at seven under for the tournament and still in contention for the title. Higginbottom, meanwhile, is one of five players tied for ninth at six under, the NZ Open winner signing off on a two-under 70 on Saturday.
Author: Omnisport