Christopher Campbell and Miklos Nagy share the men’s lead heading into the final round of the 2026 NSW Senior Amateur, while Nadene Gole has moved to the top of the women’s leaderboard after a gritty round two at Wollongong Golf Club and The Links Shell Cove.
Campbell, the three-time NSW Mid-Amateur champion, carded a four-under-par 68 at Wollongong to move to six-under for the tournament, his round built on a bogey-free back nine that featured six birdies in total. A scrappy front nine gave way to something far more fluent on the way home, the Mt Broughton golfer holing several key putts to take a share of the lead into the final day.
“I started pretty slowly with a few mistakes on the par threes on the first nine and holed a few birdie putts on the way home,” Campbell said.
“Nothing too exciting, but had some luck today.”
The highlight of his round came on the 13th, before a moment of drama on the last.
“Probably birdieing the 13th. I thought that was a good birdie, it’s a solid hole,” he said.
“And then on 18 I made the mistake of laying up into the bunker and hit a 100-metre bunker shot close and made the putt.”
Campbell was candid about the mental challenge Wollongong presents.
“It’s real hard to pick targets and be disciplined, at Wollongong you know where to hit it but it’s more linksy, and you feel the temptation to hit large targets which aren’t always the best place to be,” he said.
“So it’s still mentally challenging, but if you drop a few putts, then it should still be pretty good scoring.”
Going into the final round, Campbell is keeping expectations in check.
“Drop a few putts, hopefully and just go out there and try to hit great shots and enjoy it. Don’t go in with too many expectations, do the simple things right, and hopefully play well.”
Matching Campbell stroke for stroke is Miklos Nagy of Cabramatta, who shot four-under in tough, windy conditions at The Links Shell Cove as the last group of the day to tee off. Also featuring six birdies, Nagy’s round included a three-putt and a bogey on the back nine before three late birdies steadied the ship and brought him level with Campbell.
The highlight of his round was a long-range putt on the par-three 14th.
“The 30-footer I sunk on 14, it was a tricky putt, it could have gone either way, it could have easily three-putted, but it went straight in the back of the hole,” he said.
Nagy’s presence at the tournament is a story in itself. The Cabramatta golfer arrived as a reserve, barely expecting to get a game.
“I really didn’t think I would get a go,” he said.
“I’m only 35 minutes from home, so I thought I’d take the drive and have a look. I was practically nearly asleep in the car when the phone rang.”
Now tied for the lead heading into the final round, Nagy is keeping it simple.
“I just started playing again over the last few months, so I’m just hoping it all stays together. Continue what I’m doing and see what happens.”
In the women’s event, Gole moved to the front of the field with an even-par round at Wollongong, her back nine bogey-free in difficult conditions to sit four-over for the tournament. The Victorian was candid about the conditions, which tested the entire field.
“It was just hellishly windy, some holes it was like a full club wind,” she said.
“It was just about being in the moment out there. I probably only holed two putts all day, but it was very hard to be aggressive because of the gusts, so I just played quite consistently.”
Asked what she is hoping to take from the final round, the 2023 NSW Senior Amateur champion was characteristically understated.
“I just try and stick to my process and do the best I can.”
It also happened to be a special day away from the fairways for Gole, who celebrated her 31st wedding anniversary on the course.
“I said to Sam, how about this?” she laughed.
“Probably won’t celebrate tonight, but maybe tomorrow night — hopefully with two things to celebrate.”
The final round of the 2026 NSW Senior Amateur gets underway tomorrow at Wollongong Golf Club.
