Twenty-year-old New Zealander Vaughan McCall soared up the leader board on the third day of the Lake Macquarie Men’s International Golf Championship with a course record equalling round of nine under 63 today. McCall, who plays at the Gore Club on the bottom of the South Island, had an eagle 2 on the par 4 second hole when he holed out his second shot with a wedge. He had seven birdies on holes 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 15 and 18 and no bogeys in his remarkable round. McCall had a three under first round of 69 and a one under 71 yesterday and is now in third place at 13 under 203 with one day to go.
“When I holed out on two I knew something special was happening,” he said after his round today. “ I’ve been playing golf for seven years and this is my best round.” McCall came to Australia to play in the Australian Amateur Championships last year but this is his first try at the Lake Macquarie tournament.
Still vying for the lead in the tournament are German, Marcel Schneider, who shot five under 67 today to bring his total for the three rounds to 15 under 201 and Caboolture champion Daniel Nisbet, who carded 69 today for a total of 14 under 202.
Best of the local challengers is 18 year old Charlestown product Jake Higginbottom who is four off the pace after a four under 68 today to bring his total to 205. Higginbottom , 15th in World Amateur rankings, is one of the favourites for the event.
Schneider and Nesbit fought out the Australian Amateur Championships at Woodlands, Melbourne, last week when Schneider won on the 37th hole of the 36 hole match play final.
England’s Neil Raymond carded an excellent 67 take take him into tied 14th. England’s other qualifier Ben Loughrey struggled with a 79 leaving him tied 69th.
For third round results click here.
