Golf: Downes stays cool but Campbell on the prowl

8.00 pm

World golf No 22 Michael Campbell is poised to run down his rivals and collect his 12th career victory when the New Zealand Open concludes at the Middlemore course here tomorrow.

Campbell ended the third round today perfectly positioned to make a charge, sitting in fourth place, four shots behind Australian birthday boy Chris Downes.

The 2000 New Zealand Open champion and pre-tournament favourite got into the spirit today as scores nosedived after moderate returns marked the opening two rounds when stiff southwesterly winds kept the players honest.

Today, no more than a brisk breeze swept the par-72 layout. That, firming greens and reduced foot traffic saw Campbell and 29 others dip into red figures.

Campbell, 33, enjoyed a profitable round of five-under 67 for a three-round card of seven-under 209.

He was one shot behind New Zealand pair Mahal Pearce and Gareth Paddison, who signed for 69 and 70 today, respectively.

Tied for fifth on 210 were Australian Wayne Grady, the 1990 PGA Championship titleholder, and American Darrell Kestner, who shot 67 and 68, respectively.

Downes, who celebrated his 23rd birthday today, held his nerve after sharing the second-round lead with compatriot Alan Patterson.

Downes shot 69, including an eagle three on the 17th, while Patterson back-tracked to a share of seventh on 211 after posting 74.

Campbell, the New Zealand No 1 who has finished second in this event for the past two years, can smell the scent of victory.

"I'm improving each day and it's been pretty good. If I'm within one or two with nine to play it's going to be great fun," said Campbell, who is to ply his trade fulltime on the United States PGA Tour his year.

"I've just got to knuckle down and be in the present. All I can do is give it 110 percent and if I come second or third, or in top five, then great. If I win, all the better."

Campbell's round, which was plagued by poor driving as he found only six fairways, featured an astounding bunker shot at the par-five 17th to within three feet of the hole, which he converted for his fifth and final birdie.

"That was probably the best bunker shot since that infamous bunker shot at St Andrews (on the Road Hole at the 1995 British Open)," Campbell said.

"I only had a couple of feet where I could land it and I landed it right on the money."

He is more than capable of shooting particularly low scores to win an event, as evidenced by the 64 he carded in the closing round at this tournament three years ago at Paraparaumu Beach on the Kapiti Coast.

Asked whether he can repeat that sizzling finish, Campbell didn't hesitate: "Yeah, why not?"

Pearce is an unexpected contender. The Dunedinite, 27, is in his third season of the Australasian PGA Tour and only started to make tournament cuts in the latter half of last year.

The day's lowest round of 66 was carded by Australian Scott Gardiner and Japan's Kix Kawahara.

The second hole-in-one of the tournament was registered on the 10th hole by Auckland driving range professional Rhys Bishop. The same hole gave up an ace yesterday to Wade Ormsby, of Australia.

- NZPA