Richard Sterne of South Africa birdied three of the last four holes to overtake halfway leader Oliver Wilson after the third round of the Johnnie Walker Classic at Blue Canyon Country Club, Phuket, Thailand.
The 25 year old from Pretoria, a lightweight among modern golfers at 5ft 7in and 10st 10lbs, proved that a slight frame is not a handicap at the highest level by putting together a second consecutive 64 for a 13 under par total of 203.
Sterne leads 26 year old Wilson by a shot after the Englishman stuttered over that same demanding stretch which carried Sterne to the fore. After making what turned out to be an impressive bogey at the last on Friday, Wilson this time conjured up an equally courageous bogey at the 17th hole for a round of 70 and a 204 total.
The two ‘twentysomethings’ go head to head in the final round with the glittering prize at stake. Sterne has already tasted European Tour success, having won the Open de Madrid in 2004, while the less experienced Wilson is seeking his maiden Tour success.
Tucked in behind the leaders is another South African, Anton Haig who, at 6ft 4in, towers over his good friend Sterne and can muscle the ball tremendous distances. Haig also fired a 70 in the sapping heat and humidity for an 11 under par total with Richard Lee of New Zealand fourth on nine under and Major Champion Retief Goosen fifth on eight under.
Sterne arrived in Thailand in chirpy mood after winning the Vodacom Championship and taking second place in the Telkom PGA Championship on the Sunshine Tour. However that confidence evaporated in double quick time as the South African stumbled to an opening three over par 75.
“I checked out of my hotel and took my bags to the course” revealed Sterne with a chuckle. “I had a flight home at 8pm that I fully expected to be on. Luckily I played well to shoot 64 and was able to check back into the same hotel!”
With a middle pair of rounds totalling 128 shots – 16 birdies and no bogeys – Sterne has taken the tournament by the scruff of the neck and can now begin to crank up his bid to achieve his 2007 goals.
He said: “This year my goal is to get into the top 50 in the world and hopefully get to the States. I’ve never played there professionally. I need to learn how to win, especially in tough fields.”
Wilson’s best finish to date came on a previous visit to Asia, when he was runner-up to Paul Casey in the Volvo China Open 15 months ago. Now he aims to go one better and start to climb the ladder scaled by the likes of Casey, Luke Donald and David Howell before him.
Three birdies on the front nine put Wilson in command, two shots clear of the field, but his game was in danger of unravelling coming home. He did well to make a par at the 15th after driving close to a tree, and his tee shot at the par three 17th came to rest on the water’s edge below the green.
From there, Wilson considered taking a drop but opted to play out. His shot, inconvenienced by a tin can near the ball, landed short of the green and from there he made a superb up and down for a bogey four.
Wilson came close to holing a final birdie putt at the last but settled for his place in the last group with Sterne. He said: “It was a shame about the 17th but I just can’t see the shot in there. I tried to cut in a four iron but it came out a bit thin. I did lose a bit of concentration but managed to regroup and had a solid par at the last.”
Now in his third full season on The European Tour International Schedule, Wilson is beginning to enjoy the professional existence. He added: “I’m really comfortable and starting to enjoy it. I think that’s the difference. When I came out – and I’m sure it’s the same with other guys – you want to make things happen quickly. You learn to need to relax and let it happen. Learn and adapt.
“I’m not there yet, but I am definitely getting more comfortable and especially in this type of situation. I’m looking forward to this a lot more this year, whatever happens tomorrow.
“I think it’s great that The European Tour seems to have a lot of up and coming players who can hopefully keep pushing each other on and competing against each other to become the best. Paul and Luke are good examples while there is a bunch of young guys to compare myself with, like Ross Fisher, and hopefully everyone will push each other on.”
Of the leading quintet, Goosen is by far the most experienced and, at five shots back, the two-time US Open Champion is still on the fringes ofr the title hunt. However he conceded: “I didn’t play well enough. Simple as that. I started off well and things went a bit pear-shaped and I think the tournament is pretty much gone for me. I’ll just try to shoot low tomorrow and see where I finish.”
