Mark Pearson has fired the round of the tournament to vault into the lead at the NSW Senior Amateur at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club Resort.
The Mona Vale stalwart carded a three-under-par 69 on an afternoon perfect for scoring. His round included five birdies and an eagle on the 460-metre par five 12th.
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“You didn&apost want to see my start,
“Four over through four and seven under through the next 14.
“Birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, par, eagle, par, par, par, birdie, par par,” the State Transit bus driver grinned.
“I hit it close, real close.
“I hit my driver 300, and it&aposs short. I hit it well and hit my short irons close.
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Pearson said the running couch fairways and reachable par-fives gave him a massive advantage. He added his round could have been even better except for a snafu on the 4th. and a missed four-footer for birdie on the 11th
“I knocked it on ( for two) every par five, except for the one down the back. I hit it in the water on the right.
“It could have been five birdies in a row.”
“I&aposm upset it wasn&apost,” he laughed.
Pearson was at a loss at how his round turned so suddenly. Call it in the zone or whatever; he was happy to just ride along with the sensation.
“You get into a zone, and that&aposs it. You start reeling them off, and it&aposs a nice feeling.”
Today&aposs 69 wasn&apost Pearson&aposs best round in the Senior ranks but may be one of his most important. He has a few Senior Order of Merit titles to his name, but nothing as important as the NSW Senior Crown.
“I won the ACT Seniors back-to-back, and a senior event in Queensland when I first started playing these events a few years ago, but nothing this big.”
Pearson doesn&apost think he will have too much trouble sleeping with the lead overnight; he plans to have a relaxing beverage tonight and pick up tomorrow where he left off today.
“It&aposs another day tomorrow,” he laughed. “I&aposll keep doing the same thing.
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Claney marches on with solid 72
Gordon Claney has carded the round of the morning, an even-par 72, for a to set the morning mark at the NSW Senior Amateur.
Claney described his effort thus far as &aposOK&apos but in a sign to his chasers, felt there was some room to improve.
“I played reasonably solid. I played better today than I did yesterday when I didn&apost really know where it was going,
“I chunked a couple of wedges today, one going into the 9th, and then another 10th, but I birdied 11, unfortunately bogied 18.”
Claney described the condition of the course as excellent and as said it was playing far better today than yesterday when the wind really put the course on an edge for the older brigade.
“The course plays really well. If you were doing a review of this course, you would say; &aposperfect tees, perfect fairways, and very good greens. oh, clean water in the ponds.”
When asked about his chances heading into the final round at what would be required, Claney said he would head to the range this afternoon in search of the key.
“I don&apost think I am playing that good, but not playing that bad either. Maybe find the secret card on the practice fairway, after lunch of course.”
Bluebird Day at Murray Downs
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Conditions are perfect for Day two of the NSW Senior Amateur Championship at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club Resort.
Unlike yesterday's testing southwesterly, the early starters were greeted with a pristine autumn day, with almost no wind, and a course in picture perfect condition.
Co-Leaders, Kingston Health's Gordon Claney and South Australian John Davey, will be out to build a lead before tomorrow's final round.
Claney is already on the course, while Davey is expected to go from the first at 1.10pm.
Follow GolfNSW for live scores and news as the day develops.