Three-time champion Robert Allenby shot a third-round five-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead going into the final round of the US$1.2 million Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the final event of the inaugural OneAsia season.
Allenby is nine-under-par at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and leads by one from fellow Australians Greg Chalmers, who shot 67, and Scott Strange, who carded a 68 and is looking for his second OneAsia title of the season following his win in April’s Volvo China Open.
Adam Scott (68), the former world number three who won the Australian Open for the first time last week, Geoff Ogilvy (70) and Michael Sim (65) are tied for fourth at seven-under.
Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-ching was the leading Asian in a share of 11th place on four-under after carding an even-par 71, while first-round leader Han Min-kyu of South Korea is a shot behind after a 73.
Allenby, fresh from his victory last weekend at the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, cashed in on ideal conditions, with little wind and overnight rain that softened the greens. Having only made the decision to contest the event two weeks ago, Allenby's choice is close to paying huge dividends after he assumed top spot.
“I think every day could have been better, even today," Allenby, 38, said. “Today was a good day and a good result at the end. Making a couple of birdies on the last couple of holes was nice.
“I played solid all day, but the greens were a bit sticky, bit grainy. It was probably all of the rain we had early this morning and that definitely slowed up the greens.”
Left-handed Chalmers added a 67 to earlier rounds of 68 and 70 to share second place.
“It's been a long time since I've won and unfortunately I have a lot of good players that keep showing up, as is evident on the leaderboard right now,” Chalmers said. “It looks like a who's who of Australian golf at the moment.”
The 36-year-old, who finished runner-up to world number one Tiger Woods at last month's Australian Masters at Kingston Heath, comfortably retained his US PGA Tour card this year and believes that has helped immeasurably.
“I haven't come home with my best stuff in the past to be honest,” he added. “I've come home worn out, but this year I’ve been buoyed by the confidence of a good year overseas.
“That takes off a lot of stress and a lot of pressure and enables you to play free golf. There’s a big difference between playing free and open than trying to make your card or make a cut. I think that’s a lot harder than dealing with leading a tournament sometimes.”
Chalmers is expecting someone to shoot a low score in the final round, provided the weather is again mild.
“I think if we get the same weather again, look out. The guys are going to make some birdies,” he said. “I don't think you can get away without someone shooting five or six under. I’d be very surprised if they didn't.”
The Australian PGA Championship is the final event on both the Australasian Tour and OneAsia calendars for 2009. The inaugural OneAsia season teed off with April’s Volvo China Open won by Strange, who leads the Order of Merit.
Korea’s Bae Sang-moon won his second straight title at September’s Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open, Chinese number one Liang Wenchong won October’s Midea China Classic and Scott won last week’s Australian Open in Sydney.
Australian PGA Championship, OneAsiaLeading third-round scores (par 71; Australian unless stated):
204 - Robert Allenby 70-68-66
205 - Greg Chalmers 68-70-67, Scott Strange 67-70-68
206 - Michael Sim 71-70-65, Adam Scott 68-70-68, Geoff Ogilvy 70-66-70
207 - Marc Leishman 70-71-66, John Senden 73-67-67
208 - Cameron Percy 72-69-67, Matthew Griffin 67-68-73
209 Josh Geary (NZL) 70-73-66, Steve Marino (USA) 70-73-66, Nick O’Hern 70-70-69, Michael Curtain 73-65-71, Chan Shih-ching (TPE) 68-70-71, Stuart Appleby 67-69-73
Selected scores:
210 - Han Min-kyu (KOR) 62-75-73
213 - John Daly (USA) 71-70-72
215 - Kang Ji-man (KOR) 74-72-69, Kurt Barnes (AUS) 76-70-70, Li Chao (CHN) 71-71-74
217 - Lee Tae-hee (KOR) 75-70-72
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