-14 — Austin Bautista (274)
-13 — Jay Mackenzie (275)
-10 — Will Florimo (278)
-9 — Zach Ion (279)
-9 — Ty Gingerich (279)
-9 — Nathan Barbieri (279)
-9 — Jimmy Zheng (279)
-8 — Todd Sinnott (280)
-8 — Curtis Luck (280)
-7 — Jeffrey Guan (281)
-7 — James Marchesani (281)
-7 — Dillon Hart (281)
-7 — Andrew Campbell (281)
-7 — Lachlan Barker (281)
here on the second. This is for Birdie. And he’s actually started the day with a birdie on the first hole today as well. Bella. Oh, almost back to back. This is serious stuff out here though um for these guys. There’s so much at stake. You wouldn’t know it speaking to Jay McKenzie. But uh the last three winners of this tournament have gone on to finish top eight in the Order of Merit. And with three DP World Tour cards on offer at the end of the year, this is high stakes stuff. Austin tapping that one in for par going back to back this morning. Curtis Luck range now to Jay McKenzie on the first second shot here on the par four. Fantastic approach to get it on the right lever with the flag at the back and can he pay it off? What a start when you’re leading by. And Batista left his first part well short as you can see, but just walking it in. Absolutely right, Nick. And taking a look at Curtis Luck here. [Music] It’s not a good start there for Curtis, unfortunately. That was a triple bogey. Perfect spot off the tea for Jay here down the right hand side. 104 playing a couple of meters uphill. So 106 on a pretty aggressive line. Oh, all over the flag coming back. What a golf shot. This might even go in. That’s a kick in birdie. I tell you what, not that we expected any nerves with his attitude, but uh he’s certainly getting ready to go for it off the tease. He was aggressive off the first, aggressive here. He’s looking to make an impression. Little bit left of the pin this one. Yeah, also a really good shot. Great distance control. He’s a good wedge player. I know Nick spoke yesterday about the fact that he had spent some time with Yeah, really nicely done. Oh, that was a pure roll. Just lost a little bit of pace. Bear in mind yesterday Jace started with a six-sh shot lead. There were a couple of occasions where in the space of 10 15 minutes his lead dwindled from four back to one or two. Still made the cut and his playing partner I think had a triple bogey on the same hole as well. So they had a combined 19 holes for that. Sorry, 19 shots for that hole. Senate is trying to sneak one in but speed was good. It’ll be a tap in par for the tall Victorian. Yeah. And speaking of of speed, these greens have actually gotten progressively quicker throughout the week. They’re rolling right around 12 1/2 on the stip meter today, which is that’s quick. I mean, you get those quick sandbell greens. They’re only what are they? Somewhere between 13 and 14. He does like to hit a little draw too. Jay McKenzie eyeing it down. Oh, look at the ball striking early on. He certainly dialed in and he’s sending a message to Austin very quickly. If they’ve got a little side wager going, well, Austin was wondering and a couple of clubs out, but he has gone with nine on. We’re just going to try and smooth one a little bit and not flight it up too much into this wind, which is The flag’s dead, but it is up there. [Applause] Now, Curtis Luck at the tea on the fifth. The fact he’s in the top 10 with two doubles and a triple really in about the last 15 holes of this of his tournament is quite remarkable. That is the mini driver here when you see the ball just teed up a little higher than the 3 through 3wood and not quite as much as the driver. It’s become a very popular club for a lot of players and that works out nicely. He was leaning as though I was going well right but nice little members bounce. Good looking roll. He’s missed it on the other side. And he putts it so good. This one’s going to do a little bit from his left, but it’s not a whole lot. Really good chance here to really put a stamp on this. Even though you get the feeling all these players at 8, seven, six, five under are probably fighting a losing cause, there’s plenty of points to play for Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. So, an outright third or maybe even sneaking up into second can Yeah, we’re talking about yesterday. I’d love to see him play more in Europe, but perhaps finish up on the order of merit. Maybe get a DP World Tour card car. That would be fun for him to see it turning in a little from right to left. Oh boy, that was all over it, wasn’t it? I was a couple of feet away from being stiff. Yeah. Finished middle of the green. Quite easy to get too aggressive and knock it over the back. That’s what he’s done. Even though it doesn’t look like a great shot after the T-shot, five won’t be a bad score. Absolutely right, Nick. As we look ahead to Will Flormo here at the sixth. Crafty little bump and run up the bank. That’s pretty good result. Going along nicely, too. He’s done it too. Soldiering on nicely. Taking advantage of the par fives position. have a bit more of an idea of pace. If this gets to the hole, I’d be surprised. Oh, hello. He was just casually walking up thinking it was in. I’m I’m guessing. Goodness me. That was a whisker away from a six-sh shot lead. As calm as looking as Jay McKenzie out there. It is It is really hard to fathom that he would get flustered at any point. That’s a path for Barbari. Yeah. Got to take your mind off it, don’t you? I love this action from Austin Bautista. Really loads into his right side going back beautifully. Not holding back there. Oh, look at this go. There’s that down slope I was talking about. I might have even gone past Todd Sinets. I’m thinking it doesn’t have too far. That yellow disc is only 50 m to the front. So, about 65 70 m to the hole. I need a high spinner. He’s done that nicely. Yeah, certainly is. I’ve never actually watched him play any on the television like everyone else. But he did used to practice a little bit out of my home club uh in the US called Isleworth as we watch Todd Sinn just wow. That’s how you that’s how you work the short game. If you don’t make it in that first year or two, your rookie year out there, it can be pretty hard to to make it on the big tour. And he’s done well on the corn ferry tour and had some good results. So hopefully he can get over these injuries and couple over for the round courtesy of that triple bogey at number two. Does this man Nathan Barbi beautiful golf swing? Yeah, we spoke about it six weeks ago. This is going to be his four iron. He did tell me fivewood carries 210. So, this is going to need to be a good one. Aiming it well left. Trying to slide it in there. That’s a good shot. Really, really good shot. As I mentioned, you got to be looking left of that flag, but it’s no easy two putt from there. Bring you back to our live action now with Austin Batista. Long range effort here. Oh, and a brilliant one at that, Nick. We’ve seen players struggle with the pace from there. Yeah, that’s a wonderful, wonderful judge of speed. It’s just exactly what he needed after the previous hole. Quickly get back to level for the day. Back to 12 under. Flag out. He thinks he can hold it. Oh, this to get to double figures. Oh, beautifully done. Saw him do that a lot up in the Northern Territory. He’s gone left hand low with the putting, which has been different what I used to see him do. And it certainly has leveled the shoulders out. All right. So, he’s First blemish on the card. This is really awkward. You got to catch this absolutely perfectly with the lofted club. That’s spectacular, isn’t it? And I guess for the amateurs watching at home, a little like a long bunker shot, there was absolutely no steering or anything there or deceleration. And that was just pure speed through the ball while Austin’s sort of creating a bit of his own energy which he feeds off. Starting down the left side for Jay. Perfect. Cracking T-OT. Now Nathan Barbar’s making a bit of ch of a charge this Sunday out of the bunker. Well, that’s been the second hardest hold this week. But uh yeah, back in the proam days he used to travel around a fair bit. Todd sent it for birdie. Oh, that would have been some up and down. It’s a remarkable country, isn’t it? I mean, when you think about the variety on offer in WA, NT, the Morningington Peninsula, Tasmania, Queensland, I mean, it’s just it’s just a beautiful country and we’re very lucky here in Australia. Place in my heart for Mount Lley. They have a great junior and female program there at Mount Wley, too, don’t they? Yeah, they certainly do. Got Alex Mai, who’s a wonderful coach. Uh, he’s been working with Jordan D, obviously. It’s all over it. His distance control up to that point has been great with the wedges, but perhaps getting a little fooled by the breeze. Kind of a lazy miss right. So, I would have thought he won’t be going too close to this left hand pin. Jay McKenzie take a bow. Brilliant shot. Couple of wedges. He’s stiff today on three and seven. I don’t let it affect him on the next T- shot. Usually end up with a par or a birdie. Barberi just tidying up. Signing it down. Oh, wonderful shot. Had his car broken into in the early hours of Friday. Third birdie of the day offset by the one drop shot. That leads back to four. Now to Todd Sinet on the eighth. Very difficult bunker shot. Everything running away from him. It was so difficult that he held it. What a shot. Todd Senate. Goodness me. Curtis hit the pure iron in there and probably walk off one shot more. Gee, that’s quick. Oh, or will he? Oh, it was tracking, wasn’t it? He will. They’re the ones that just rip your heart out in match play. I’ve got him here. McKenzie at the T on the eighth. It’s an awkward one for him because he likes to draw the ball so it doesn’t visually set up for him. And that is a fantastic shot in my opinion, Nick. Just middle of the green. Yeah, you can tell as soon as he hit the shot, picked the tea up, he said, “Yep, that’s exactly where I wanted it.” They haven’t seen many pars out of the back bunker. And then Todd Sinnate goes and does what he did in front. Well, they’re right, aren’t they? You see that trajectory? That is a wonderful. Visit their website. Pers also includes travel and accommodation to Melbourne. Now, Sinnate after that phenomenal shot out of the bunker. Here he is on the ninth. Yeah, good T- shot. This hole can jump up and grab you. Curtis Luck made a double bogey here yesterday. play more for the middle of the green and leave himself 20 to 30 ft. I mentioned Curtis Luck made a double bogey here yesterday. Here he is on the tea. That’s ideal. What a great design. I I love what Graeme Marsh has done with that fairway bunker there. That It’s a wonderful approach to get it all the way back to that flag. That’s about 10 11 ft left for his birdie to retain his four-stroke lead. That’s a sensational two putt from our leader. Go ahead to nine with Curtis. Beautifully done. Couple of threes on the scorecard today. You happily walk to the night’s tea. The vibes after that birdie on the previous hole. Can he do it go back to back? Yes, he can. How big of a boost is it in a round? You nail one of those freakish shots. It’s a crazy game, isn’t it? It’s why we love it. And we also hate it at the same time, just like Curtis Luck probably hates it right now. Oh my goodness. It’s been a tough day for Curtis. Par on the first, tripled the second, birdie the third, par sense, and now another bogey. But he’s getting getting some good reps in and some tournament golf, which he doesn’t have to worry about the spin. Terrific shot of the pin. So that’ll slow it down, but there’s not a lot of green long pin 32 paces on. So this is all of 40 meters this one. And it always baffles me when you’re trying to release it so much why you use a sand wedge or or a lob wedge. Just take a Oh, another one that just burnt the edge. He’s rolling the ball beautifully. They’re not going in. They’re certainly scaring the hole. A chance for a two- shot swing here now though. The other bogey he made back at six produced a two shot swing. You got to say there and a barbari. This for par on 10. Nicely done. Really big chance to capitalize here. I think we could see a f this pump if this goes in. He’s actually under red quite a few putts today. The edges one closer. It is perfect. Leave him around 120 110 120 to the flag. Lot of confidence and that just nice little soft draw that you spoke about a lot you perfect down this right side of this hole that has started a down the left hand side is going to be absolutely fine. That will give Todd Sinet an idea of what the ball will do when it gets on the putting surface. Would have seen that just feed a little bit to the right. Ah, nicely done there from Sinnate. They gave me one of those oversized Happy Gilmore checks, too. That was a lot of fun. Tell me you’ve still got it. No, unfortunately. It’s got bit lost somewhere. Didn’t try and bank it. You know, a bit of bit of atmosphere around him and also try and get Jay a bit unsettled. It’s a good looking golf shot here. Yeah, you’re not wrong. Great distance control again. And that’s right where you want to leave it. Not high enough. Ah, there we go. There’s the start he needed to the back nine. Draws within two. Birdie celebration handshake. There was a linking of pinkies. There was thumbs doing things. It was It was very complicated. Sounds like a lot of choreographing today. Or if they are part fives, it might be a second shot. Superb. Obviously Todd’s been practicing those. That was a wonderful approach. Globe and you get there about the same time. Plays these with a lot of spin. Curtis Luck and he plays them very well just like that one. Get back to six under par here for Curtis Luck. Well done. happened uh about five years ago at the Queensland PGA. Well done. And I’ll tell you what, he’s only four strokes behind. He’s certainly not out of this. It’s a great strike here and it’s on a great line, but it needs to go. And it has it crawls on the front edge. That was a big iron. I think it’s four iron trying to hit that 226 m. But got fortunate there. Curtis luck. as we take you to our leader now who has found himself in some bunker trouble here. How can he manage? That was the wrong miss over on the right hand side and actually a really good shot there but had to take his medicine aiming away from the flag and game on. I think too difficult just down the hill. Well, pressure’s just been risen at 12 bit on the left. Ball above his feet in the right hand side trying to turn it in from right to left. Exquisite. So we go to the other side. Senate who found the fairway bunker off the tea. He’s got a good light. Shouldn’t be too bad, but as though it came out a bit thin. He’s done well. Done really well, Nick. Easy shot. Now to Curtis luck here for birdie. Really nicely done. As we keep saying, doesn’t hit it quite as far. That’s a really good shot there from McKenzie. Just another little feel wedge that he likes to drive in low and get it to bounce back. Coming in low and right of the hole. Should bounce a little left. He’s been great with his wedges today, Jimmy. It’s another one there. Check that. Big putt here. Pass save for Bautista. Oh my goodness. What a good try. I’m gonna go, Nick. I’m going to go out on a limb and say they’ll pair Elvis with Rory first today’s Aussie Open. What do you think? Yeah, we’re talking about that on a podcast the other day actually. McKenzie cleaning up for par there as we take you to Todd Sinnverting the edge there. This is one of the things that makes this hole so difficult. Look at this putt here for Curtis Luck. He hit a beautiful T- shot in here. Double breaking putt down the hill. Excellent lag. It’s just so difficult to get your ball close if you do hit a good T- shot. I’ve seen a lot of players miss this green in reg. It’s a flag like this, a hole like this, Nick, where Tiger just in his prime he excelled such an advantage. Oh, Todd in it. You would think with five holes left that spelled the end of his chances. Now five back. Not much club. This is a six for Austin. He loves it. Come on. Come on. Here we go. Come on. Do it. Here we go. Oh, I would have looked like the greatest commentator ever then. Unfortunately, it’s Yeah. which he’s done effectively. Nicely done. You can see him tee it up on the right hand side if it’s not a lot of sand in the bottom of this bunker either. So there’s a bit of green to work with. He’s been up to read the green. Just trying to get it over the edge. Chucked it a bit. was on a down slope and he’s going to be putting first off. Pure. Absolutely pure. That was so clutch. Oh yeah, it’s in a it’s in a funny little spot. This pin at the bottom there. It’s green goes a bit everywhere. That didn’t that went bright. All right, they’ll head to the 14th T. The way they second shot. Green’s really firmed up today, haven’t they? Oh, nice approach. Middle of the green. Never a bad spot here on 14. One of the longest par fours on the golf course. Just perfect for Batista. And that is out there too. I’ve already scanned it. Surprise. I I didn’t know about the one-on-one. Okay. No, I’m kidding. I’m kidding. Of course, someone who doesn’t need a one-on-one is Curtis Luck. Wow. I thought Now, I got lucky with the lie there too, Bella, because you could see there were a few deep tire tracks and that is just a an unforced error from Todd Sinet coming off the bogeyear 13. Very disappointing. It’s not a good line. Great camera work. What a shot. Jay McKenzie. Take a bow. That’s pure class right there. There. But he’s going to roll it over a couple of mounds. really hard to judge this pace and get it right. Oh, that’s spectacular, Jimmy. We got a good view from down at the bottom of just how challenging that was. Oh, it was always just a little ripe, wasn’t it? You look at things optimistically where he’s hit his last two T- shots. He’s done very, very well. Should be a little bit more confident to just in the left edge of the hole and pour it in. He’s a good putter, isn’t he? I mean, he does a lot of things very, very well, but it’s a confident putting stroke. Incredible up and down. This is a shot from Calguli if I’ve ever seen one. He’s ironed it off. Yeah, he’s found the green. Well done. He’s starting to just leak a little bit of oil coming down the stretch. Just keeps moving up the leaderboard. Tied for fourth. And this man, he wants to make a few more birdies coming in as well. Another tough pin just perched above that ridge. Few extra spectators out there as we bring you to the 15th T with Jay McKenzie. Confident swing to be down the right hand side. Just thinking of that picture we saw there. I don’t think you could get more of an Australiana postcard in that one. Could you red dirt the kangaroo brain Curtis Luck from long range? We saw him haul a bomb on the previous hole. Can he go back to back? Wonderful attempt. Excellent two putt from about 45 50 ft. His playing partner Todd Sinn just got a good read. His long putting has been superb, hasn’t it? Not only hold a couple, but speed’s been really, really good. A lot of positives for him to take into next week. I mean, he hasn’t played a tournament since the open, Nick. what sort of ring you’d get for that. 163 m. Bellam’s got to go under the first tree, over the second tree. So, probably a little bit of a cuddy sort of a one this one. That’s a spectacular shot. Under one tree, over the other. And it looked like he was on a little bit of a downs slope. And although that’s just he’s going to try and get it all as far back as he can. Just chipping a little eight iron there. Oh my goodness. That is so classy, Nick. That’s a world class shot, isn’t it? It certainly is. Yeah, he knows how to play this game. This is a birdie hole for these players in the 18th of par 52. Good chance for a barntorming finish and that’s perfect. Thread the needle between that tree and the bunker. Well done there by Todd. What about in Look out. Oh my goodness. Well, the camera work just does not get any better than that. Yeah, haven’t seen that all day. That little low pull. It’s coming in. Good to get that one out of the system with a provisional, but I don’t think he’s going to be too happy where that first one’s finished. Curtis Luck trying to keep another big number off the card here. This is his fourth man. Now Todd Sinn it just off the edge to finish with a booty or two coming in. And unfortunately to do that you got to get it to the hole. [Applause] It’s a great two putt, isn’t it? Really good two putt. See if he can’t come away with the trophy. All right. Well, there it is. All blocked up on top. Let’s look now. Todd Sinet left on this. Gone at it a bit hard. He’s leaking oil, isn’t he? Bear in mind, too, in in these players defense, it’s 6 weeks since the last four round tournament they’ve played. Prior to that, it was quite a few months for for most of them. They’ll be they’ll be better for the the hit out this week. It is still got plenty of loft on it. Well, all you can say is it’s a shame. That is a real shame. That’s got to stop, too. I mean, it’s a testament to the design. It’s a wonderful hole. Nikico said it perfectly. Let’s go a little bump and run again. Oh my goodness. Are you kidding me? It’s a silly game, isn’t it? That could be the best bogey we’ve seen. And it’s still game on. Wow. All right, we’re taking a look at some earlier action. Nathan Barbari, his playing partner. Jimmy Yang. Nice birdie on 18 as well to finish on the same score. Let’s go. Let’s go. Austin’s taking it down the left side and just cutting it a little bit headed towards that red dirt. Gets a good bounce forward and back onto the fairway grass. Part one of the equation complete from him. Gives himself a chance to try and put some even more pressure on his playing partner down the right hand side. Just going to depend on the first bounce. [Applause] Now here is Curtis. Little bump and run. Didn’t get enough spin on that one. Unfortunately, I think that flag is probably pretty close to where he’s he played the chip shot from yesterday. was a good try. Was 11 under standing on the 13th TE. Nonetheless, it’s a good week. Yeah, five birdies. Yes sir. Great roll. Oh, come on. Come on. This could be really good. What a shot. Jay McKenzie. Yeah, this could be excellent as well. Beautifully played. That is sensational. Putting on a show. Well done. Oh no. Wow, that looked good. It was funny. The cut from that angle was actually leaning a little right. You thought it was going to straighten out, but it didn’t. On the line with this putt for Austin Batista. and his name will be etched on it. Incredible. A birdie on the last Austin Batista sealing the WA PGA Championship. [Applause]
