POULTER EDGES AHEAD
Ian Poulter had his nose in front of playing partner and overnight leader Geoff Ogilvy heading down the home stretch at the 2011 JBWere Australian Masters at Victoria Golf Club.
Prepared to chance his arm, Poulter picked up four shots on the front nine to move to 15 under at the turn, two clear of Ogilvy who churned out nine consecutive pars.
Marcus Fraser, who was five under for his round through 14 holes, was holding down outright third place at 10 under.
Ogilvy's two-shot overnight lead was wiped out on the short 233-metre par-four opening hole when Poulter rolled in a five-metre putt for eagle.
The Englishman scrambled to save his par at the second and third and sunk a five-metre par saver at the fifth.
But he seized the lead outright after sinking a five-metre birdie putt at the seventh and maintained the pressure by knocking his approach to the 559-metre par-five ninth within inches of the cup to set up yet another birdie.
Ogilvy, by comparison, was the steadier of the two, but had not been able to take his opportunities.
Putts he had no trouble holing during yesterday's course record-equalling 63 today refused to drop.
Out in 32, world number one Luke Donald got to eight under before dropping shots at 13 and 14.
The best round of the day so far was returned by Queenslander Adam Crawford, a stylish 66.
Rain threatened for much of the day but the storm clouds sweeping across the city thankfully passed the course by, though conditions were extremely blustery. -http://www.sportinglife.com
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