Korea’s Guntaek Koh during round three of the NZ Open at Millbrook Resort, Queenstown, New Zealand on Saturday. Photo: www.photosport.nz
A relentless Guntaek Koh produced the shot of the day on his way to building a four-shot lead after the third round of the New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort.
The overnight leader's five-under-par 66 on Saturday was highlighted by an eagle at the short 12th hole, a blind wedge shot from 66m that took two bounces before spinning back into the cup.
At 22-under-par after 54 holes, it will be Koh's tournament to lose on the final day on Millbrook's composite course as he tries to become the event's second consecutive Asian winner.
The closest challenger to the four-time winner on the Korean Tour is West Australian lefthander Ryan Peake, who made up two shots on the leader with a 64 on Saturday and has the biggest day of his career ahead on Sunday.
Japan's Kazumi Higa eagled the par-five first and 17th holes to climb to a share of third with a nine-under-par 62.
The leading New Zealander is another lefthander, Sam Jones, who charged to a share of seventh, seven shots behind, thanks to a composite course record round of 10-under 61.
He was close to finishing his round when Koh was getting his underway with a three-shot lead, the Korean quickly extended his advantage with birdies at the first, second and third holes.
Although he had two bogeys, he turned in 3-under 33 and was as many as six shots in front before his lead dwindled slightly with six consecutive pars coming home after the eagle on 12.
"I was concerned about how much backspin I'm going to have after the shot, but it just went perfectly," Koh said of his second hole-out in as many days.
"It's great that I have a four-shot lead, but this course itself is very scoreable. I need to keep focused on what I'm doing and just make sure I just stay consistent to what I'm doing."
Jones's brilliant 61 included eight birdies plus an eagle on the par-5 17th hole where his second shot with a seven-iron finished four metres from the cup and he rolled in the slightly uphill putt.
He admitted his low round was something of a surprise.
"It's been a bit rough out there the first couple of days. Struggled a little bit on the greens, haven't been swinging it great but that's golf."
"I was just pretty grateful to be teeing it up today. I was right on the cut-line yesterday."
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