Nitties leads by one stroke over Estes
COOLUM, Australia (AP) – Former Australian amateur star James Nitties took the third-round lead in the Australian PGA on Saturday, closing with a birdie for a one-stroke advantage over American Bob Estes. The 22-year-old Nitties, playing in his fourth professional tournament, shot a 2-under 70 for a 14-under 202 total. Estes, who matched the Hyatt Regency resort course record with a first-round 63, bogeyed the 18th to match Nitties with a 70.
Nitties held a one-stroke lead over Estes, a four-time winner on the U.S. PGA Tour, going into the third round. The two-shot swing on 18 left the two in the same position – and again in the same final pairing – for Sunday.
“I was nervous at the start, but held it together,” Nitties said. “I made a lot of saving putts for par. It’s great to be where I am after three rounds.”
The 38-year-old Estes took the lead with a birdie on the eighth hole, then made a 6-footer on the ninth to move two shots ahead.
But the Texan had three bogeys and a birdie on the back nine, while Nitties birdied the 13th and 18th along with a bogey on the par-3 14th.
“I’m so frustrated I could just about explode,” Estes said. “I played so well I should have shot five or six better. But I’ll get over it.”
American Corey Pavin shot a 67 to move into a third-place tie at 12 under with defending champion Peter Senior and Peter O’Malley, both of Australia. Senior had a 68 Saturday and O’Malley shot a 69.
Australian Peter Lonard, coming off a victory Sunday in the Australian Open, was another shot back after a 71.
“I’m in a position where I can make a move on Sunday,” said Pavin, who started the day five shots behind Nitties. “It was moving day and I moved in the right direction, for a change.”
Pavin’s approach to 18 hit a rake on the downslope into a greenside bunker. After marking his ball and removing the rake, he made a difficult chip to 8 feet and holed the putt for a par.
“It was a very tough shot,” said Pavin, the 1995 U.S. Open winner who is making only his second career trip to Australia. “It was definitely one of my better up-and-downs.”
Greg Norman was six strokes behind after a 68. He missed at least a half-dozen birdie putts from 8-12 feet.
“I had good speed going on my putts today, but I was perhaps a half, quarter-of-an-inch out on my lines and that’s what happens,” said Norman. “They just weren’t going in.”
Norman said his troublesome back affected his play.
“My back isn’t very good, but we knew this was going to happen,” he said. “I won’t play again until January, which will let the whole thing settle down a bit.”