Perhaps Valentine’s Day should be renamed Australia Day.
Not only did the Australian Cricket Team demolish arch rivals England by 111 runs in the opening match of the 2015 World Cup but Australian-born golfers are in command in the two biggest golf tour’s.
Big-hitting Scott Hend stormed to the front of the Thailand Classic while on the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean and countryman, plus reigning Shell Houston Open winner, Matt Jones muscled his way to within a shot of lead after three days of the $US 6.8m AT & T Pebble Beach National ProAm.
Hend, who won for a first time on the European Tour in Hong Kong last year, came home in just 32 shots for a 66 which edged him ahead of Miguel Angel Jiménez and Thongchai Jaidee.
But then the Florida-based Aussie is no stranger to victory and while he won for a first time last year on the European Tour, Hend has won six times on the Asian Tour including three events in 2013.
He’s also had five wins in his native Australia including a break through pro career success in the 1999 South Australian PGA.
Big-hitting Aussie Scott Hend leads by one in the inaugural co-sanctioned Thailand Classic. (Photo – Thos Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
The Queenslander combined accuracy with great distance off the tee all day to birdie the long second and almost pitched in at the seventh in an outward 34.
But it was on the back nine that the 41 year old found top gear, birdieing the tenth from six feet before almost registering an albatross at the 13th. Having bombed a huge drive down the fairway, Hend fired his iron onto the front of the green and the ball narrowly passed the left edge to leave a three footer for eagle which was duly converted.
Hend then chipped in for another gain at the 15th and almost drove the 17th for a simple birdie, but dropped a shot at the last after three-putting for a 15 under total.
“It was a good round and puts me in a good position,” said Hend. “I played very solidly and putted quite well. I only made one mistake so it was pretty good.
“This is where you want to be, in the last group on a Sunday. I’ll be playing with Thongchai again and Miguel so it’ll be a good little test tomorrow.
“I’m very lucky and privileged to be playing golf for a living and being in contention on Sundays is what we’re all trying to do.”
Of his exploits on the 13th, the former rookie of the year on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour added: “It was a nice long drive and I hit a nice little five iron in there and got a good bounce on the fringe of the green. I’m not sure how close it was to going in, but it was nice to walk up there and see it very close. I did wonder if it had gone in when I heard the cheers – I couldn’t see the hole from where I was.”
In the PGA Tour’s AT & T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Jones shot a third round 67 to move to the clubhouse lead on 17-under and tied with American Brandt Snedeker (67) before veteran Jim Furky shot a round of 63 to move to the top of the Pebble Beach leader board by a shot on 18-under par.
