Long-Hitting Hawkes Bay No 1 Doug Holloway overcame two double bogeys on the first nine at Ngamotu yesterday for a two-under-par 70 and a three-shot lead for the final round of the $40,000 Olex Taranaki Open.
The 21-year-old, who'll turn professional in the new year so isn't eligible for any
prizemoney here, is 11-under par for three rounds.
His nearest challengers are Waikato professional Guy Penrose and young local player Troy Ropiha, whose third round of 70 included an 80m hole-out for eagle on the long par five 10th.
Holloway's second double bogey came when he missed the green at the par three ninth and compounded the error with a three putt. At that stage he trailed local hero Grant Moorhead by two shots.
But a brilliant second shot from a fluffy lie in the rough on the 527m 10th landed on the green on the full.
He two-putted for birdie, starting a sensational sequence of four birdies and a sand-saved par in five holes.
"Until I hit that second shot on the tenth, I was really nervous today," said Holloway who started the third round with a one shot lead over North Harbour pro Josh Carmichael. "But I've never had a lead after 54 holes in a tournament this big. I guess I'll be nervous again tomorrow."
The left-handed Penrose had the day's best round of 66.
Ropiha, whose parents run the catering operation at the course, backed up his first eagle with another on the much shorter par five 18th.
At only 426m, it's a hole which surrenders many birdies but yesterday provided the final ignominy for Moorhead. His lead had already dissipated after bogeys on the 11th and 12th. He then three putted the last for another bogey and starts five shots behind Holloway.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
