Queensland’s Cassie Porter and Branxton’s Corey Lamb have strangleholds on the NSW Junior Titles after a thrilling third round at Belmont Golf Club today.
Porter, who started the round three adrift of her maroon counterpart, Hye Park, began slowly with a pair of bogeys, letting Park out to a five-shot lead.
It was a snafu from Park on the seventh, however, with a quadruple bogey that opened the door for the Porter. Incredibly, the 16-year-old birdied the very next hole to make up the five-shot deficit to grab a share of the lead.
“I gave myself a stern talking to on the seventh,” Porter smiled. ” I told myself you know you can do it, and there’s a couple of holes coming up which are good birdie holes.
“I hung in there and made some good putts.”
Porter was suddenly in control after the self-talk, and with four more birdies on the back nine, including back to back birdie on 17 and 18, She will take a handy four-shot lead into the final day.
“It was really windy out on the course today, probably at least a two-club wind.”
“I stuck to my game plan, hit some greens and walked off the last with a good score. ” Porter said post round.
The Queenslander is well aware of the challenge she will face in the final round, saying Hye is a formidable opponent. Porter, who took the Low Amateur medallist at the Women’s NSW Open back in March isn’t phased and knows she is mentally equipped to take the title
“Hye is so consistent, but my take away from yesterday ( her ten under par round) gives me a bit of confidence.”
“I won the Low Amateur at the NSW Open back in March, and it’s nice to have under my belt.”
“Playing against the top players in a professional event helps.”
“It gives you the experience and knowledge anything can happen.”
“Stick to your game plan and come out the other side with a decent score.” She smiled.
Who can catch Corey?
Corey Lamb walked off the 18th at Belmont today looking like the world was about to fall in. He doesn’t need to be worried though; the Branxton Product holds a six-shot lead with just one round to go.
” I missed a tap in on the 17th hole,” Lamb explained. ” I would be leading by seven, but that’s how it goes, I guess.”
Earlier, Lamb had got his lead out to nine shots early on the back nine and looked like he was going to lap the field.
His nearest challenger, Queensland’s Samuel Slater, was hanging around, and with a birdie on the 16th to Lamb’s dropped shots on the 13th and 17th, finished where he had begun the day six shots adrift.
The title looks like it’s Lamb’s to lose, and despite his afternoon battles, Lamb will head into tomorrow’s round with a second Championship in as many weeks all but in his hands.
“Everyone is trying to catch me I guess.
“I ‘m playing good, so I will keep on doing what I’m doing, and I should be all right.” Lamb smiled.
