Kalgoorlie’s Connor Fewkes fired a day’s low round of 62 that included nine birdies and an eagle to move into a share of sixth spot in the Nexus Advisernet WA Open at The Western Australian Golf Club.
Fewkes trails New South Wales’ Jeffrey Guan (-12) by two strokes in the race for the Terry Gale Cup, awarded the low amateur after 72 holes.
While delighted with the change in fortunes since last week’s WA PGA Championship, where he missed the cut on his home course, Fewkes expected that a win this week was out of reach following another low round by tournament leader Deyen Lawson.
Lawson followed opening rounds of 62 and 63 with a 64 today and is eight shots clear of his nearest competitor, fellow Queenslander Lawry Flynn. A first win on the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australia looks certain for Lawson, although stranger things have happened on the golf course.
“I’d probably have to shoot 60 tomorrow – and that still might not be enough,” Fewkes laughed.
“But overall I’m really happy with the turnaround from last week, where I shot 7 over for two rounds on my home course. I was pretty flat after that.”
The course record of 61 was within his reach, and an eagle putt on the 8th hole, his penultimate, came up agonisingly short.
“I actually lost track of my score today, because I was playing a little game with my caddie. So all I was focusing on was winning the game with him. It would have been nice to equal that course record though.”
Guan, who is in a tie for third, fired a bogey-free round 6-under-par 64 and will be in tomorrow’s final group, teeing off at 09h52. The 2022 Junior Presidents Cup player continues to impress around the Western Australian Golf Club layout, with rounds of 67, 67 and 64.
The Vines’ Adam Brady (-9) overcame some early-round nerves, where he dropped three shots in the first five holes, shot a round of level-par 70 and remain side the top 10.
Further down the leaderboard, 2020 champion Hayden Hopewell (-7) is in a tie for 16th, Jack Buchanan (-3) is tie-36th and British Amateur champion Aldrich Potgieter (-1) is T46th following a round of 3-over-par 73.
We would like to thank our generous sponsors and partners, who help make the WA Open possible: Bowra & O’Dea, Coca-Cola European Partners, Department of Local Government, Sport & Cultural Industries, Drummond Golf, NatSales Australia, Nexus Advisernet, Nexus Life, Toto, SportFM, Triple M, The Western Australian Golf Club, Cottesloe Golf Club, Joondalup Resort, Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Mount Lawley Golf Club, Royal Fremantle Golf Club and Royal Perth Golf Club.
