ID :
99065
Sat, 01/09/2010 - 21:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/99065
The shortlink copeid
Norris leads at Victorian Open golf
Victorian Jason Norris holed a chip shot for an eagle on the 17th hole at Spring
Valley to take the lead after the third round of the Victorian Open golf
championship - and received an impromptu kiss from his caddie girlfriend Sarah.
Norris, who fancies his chances heading into the final round, offered a cheeky
assessment of the support from his on and off-course partner.
"I actually get a bit more than a kiss but I probably can't say," said an elated
Norris.
"I generally get a dirty weekend for an eagle and a kiss for a birdie. I don't know
what I get for an albatross."
Norris's stunning chip shot with a sand-wedge, and the resulting warm gesture, were
real highlights for the crowd gathered around the green of the downwind par five.
Norris followed up with a par on the final hole to sign for a third round 67 and a
total of 205 - eight-under par.
In outright second two shots back is the new course record holder Chris Campbell,
who shot an amazing 62 in the second round but was unable to maintain that sizzling
level of play over consecutive rounds.
In fact he failed to record a single birdie during his third round of 73.
Victorian David McKenzie, a regular on the US Nationwide Tour, is a further stroke
back at five-under after suffering a disastrous triple-bogey seven on the difficult
16th hole to lose the lead he'd held for almost nine holes.
Tied for fourth place at four-under par is a former winner of the prestigious title,
Scott Laycock, and the evergreen Peter Senior.
Norris is very comfortable at Spring Valley having developed his game playing junior
golf at the sandbelt course in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton South.
And he used this intimate knowledge to good effect, especially when a distinct
wind-switch to the southwest around midday forced the field to reassess course
management and club selection strategies on many of the dogleg fairways.
Norris, 37, has tasted victory twice before in 72-hole tournaments, having claimed
the WA PGA and NSW Open in 2007.
"I feel comfortable at the top now," he said.
"I've been there enough the last couple of years and had a couple of wins which
definitely helps. I think coming down the straight you feel comfortable, plus it's
my home course, but you never know in golf."
The final group of Norris, Campbell and McKenzie tees off at Spring Valley on Sunday
at 11.30am.
Valley to take the lead after the third round of the Victorian Open golf
championship - and received an impromptu kiss from his caddie girlfriend Sarah.
Norris, who fancies his chances heading into the final round, offered a cheeky
assessment of the support from his on and off-course partner.
"I actually get a bit more than a kiss but I probably can't say," said an elated
Norris.
"I generally get a dirty weekend for an eagle and a kiss for a birdie. I don't know
what I get for an albatross."
Norris's stunning chip shot with a sand-wedge, and the resulting warm gesture, were
real highlights for the crowd gathered around the green of the downwind par five.
Norris followed up with a par on the final hole to sign for a third round 67 and a
total of 205 - eight-under par.
In outright second two shots back is the new course record holder Chris Campbell,
who shot an amazing 62 in the second round but was unable to maintain that sizzling
level of play over consecutive rounds.
In fact he failed to record a single birdie during his third round of 73.
Victorian David McKenzie, a regular on the US Nationwide Tour, is a further stroke
back at five-under after suffering a disastrous triple-bogey seven on the difficult
16th hole to lose the lead he'd held for almost nine holes.
Tied for fourth place at four-under par is a former winner of the prestigious title,
Scott Laycock, and the evergreen Peter Senior.
Norris is very comfortable at Spring Valley having developed his game playing junior
golf at the sandbelt course in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton South.
And he used this intimate knowledge to good effect, especially when a distinct
wind-switch to the southwest around midday forced the field to reassess course
management and club selection strategies on many of the dogleg fairways.
Norris, 37, has tasted victory twice before in 72-hole tournaments, having claimed
the WA PGA and NSW Open in 2007.
"I feel comfortable at the top now," he said.
"I've been there enough the last couple of years and had a couple of wins which
definitely helps. I think coming down the straight you feel comfortable, plus it's
my home course, but you never know in golf."
The final group of Norris, Campbell and McKenzie tees off at Spring Valley on Sunday
at 11.30am.
