The Australian Boys’ Amateur Championship title race is wide open with 18 holes to play after WA’s Josiah Edwards saw his five-shot advantage whittled away at Gosnells GC.
A rollercoaster day for Gosnells member Edwards ended with him in a tie for the lead at three-under-par for the championship after being reeled in by playing partner Samuel Cascio of NSW.
Such a reversal in fortunes barely seemed possible when Edwards birdied his first two holes to move seven clear of Cascio at the top of the leaderboard. However, a calamitous treble-bogey seven at the 3rd and bogey at the 4th plunged him into black figures for the day.
After a further double-bogey at the par-three 9th, Edwards reached the turn in 38 – four over – while Cascio went out in 32 to briefly take the lead at -2 before dropping shots at 10 and 11 to hand the initiative back to his rival.
Royal Perth’s 15-year-old Spencer Harrison was also making a charge, requiring only 30 strokes for his opening nine holes (-4) to leap up into a share of the lead.
He could not keep up the blistering pace on his back nine, however, mixing one birdie with three bogeys in a two-under 68 that saw him finish the day in outright 4th at even par for the championship.
Royal Perth’s Spencer Harrison is just three strokes off the lead heading into the final day
Although Edwards steadied the ship on his back nine with two birdies and seven pars, Cascio picked up shots at three of his final six holes as he carded a fine 67 to take a share of the lead.
What had looked like a one-horse race just 24 hours ago is now anything but, with nine players now within five strokes of the lead – including South Australian Kade Bryant, whose best-of-the-week 64 launched him up the leaderboard into 3rd position at one-under.
The top 36 and ties made the cut for tomorrow’s final round, with WA’s Ollie Marsh (Wanneroo GC) and Nate Johnson (Joondalup CC) safely progressing in T17th and T23rd respectively. View the full boys’ leaderboard here.
Singh keeps lead in girls’ event
Queenslander Shyla Singh kept hold of top spot in the girls’ championship after a third consecutive round in the 60s moved her to -7 for the championship.
Her nearest challenger is SA’s Raegen Denton, who moved to within three strokes of Singh’s lead after a 68 today. She in turn is three clear of Victorian rising star Amelia Harris, who also carded a three-under 68.
Only two WA girls made the 54-hole cut: Mount Lawley GC clubmates Isabella Leniartek and Aileen Sirait in T23rd and T27th respectively. Former WA junior squad player Kortni Houston, who moved to ACT last year, will also play in Friday’s final round. View the girls’ leaderboard here.
The final round of the Australian Junior Amateur Championship tees off at Gosnells Golf Club at 7am. Spectators are very welcome to attend.
Isabella Leniartek is the highest-placed WA girl after Round 3
