An impressive round from Australian Matthew Millar has left Josh Geary with a battle on his hands heading into the final day of the New Zealand PGA Championship.
Geary held a share of the lead at the halfway mark of the tournament, having opened with consecutive rounds of six-under 66,but another solid effort in yesterday's third round was upstaged by Millar at the Remuera Golf Club.
Millar leads the Kiwi by two shots ahead of today's final round, sitting on 17-under for the tournament after firing a bogey-free, eight-under 64. Millar began the day three shots off the lead but put on an incredible display of golf on the front nine to make six birdies and seize the advantage.
Geary, meanwhile, made a birdie on the opening hole and followed that with another on the fourth, before a couple of bogeys brought him back to even-par for the day. But the 30-year-old recovered to post two birdies in his closing three holes to sit outright second on 15-under and remain the leading local player after three rounds.
Geary takes those honours ahead of Ryan Fox, who put on an impressive show, posting six-under to be sixth and four shots off the lead.
Millar will begin the fourth round wary of both Kiwis, especially after what happened at the Queensland PGA Championship last month. Millar also led that tournament heading into the final round but was leapfrogged as Fox made two late eagles to claim the title.
"I was gutted after Toowoomba," Millar said. "But I was very happy for Ryan and for the way he finished. You don't ever have the win until it's signed off and you've got it but I thought I was a really good chance there and I did nothing wrong on the last day.
"I'm quite hungry for that win. I'm here to win and I'll give it my best tomorrow."
