Masters' apprentice leads as Scott inches closer

BY BRENDAN JAMES AT METROPOLITAN GOLF CLUB

In 2008, Paul Spargo quit the travelling roadshow life of a touring professional, packed the clubs away and got a real job as an apprentice plumber in his native Adelaide.

He lasted 12 months before discovering playing holes was way better than digging them.

Paul Spargo reacts to a birdie putt rolling in on the 9th hole during the third round. PHOTO: Getty Images

“It was a good experience,” he admits. “Dug a few holes … definitely better at hitting a golf ball.”

Tomorrow, the hard work and dedication he put into his golf after that gap year will hopefully come to fruition as he takes a one-stroke lead into the final round of the BetEasy Australian Masters.

Spargo, 34, advanced his bid for the biggest title of his career with a one under 71 that has him at eight under, one shot clear of third round playing partner and 36-hole leader Michael Wright, who is also in search of a life-changing victory at Metropolitan Golf Club.

Spargo offset four bogies with five birdies including a pair of twos on the back nine par-3s, the 11^th and 13th holes. On a blustery afternoon when many of the leading players had to fashion escape shots from the trees, Spargo was outstanding missing only two fairways in his round.

The one time he did venture deep into the woods was on his second shot into the par-5 8^th, which he sliced wildly right and could not be seen from the fairway. He was not only lucky to find his ball but it came to rest in a clearing and he had a swing. Using a sand wedge, he played out of the trees onto the green and his ball rolled to within three feet of the hole. Unfortunately he couldn’t convert the putt for what would have been the best birdie made in this Masters.

“It was a bit of a lucky shot maybe,” Spargo said. “To hit it to three feet … it was a good shot, I'll take it.”

Michael Wright escapes from a fairway bunker playing his final hole of the third round. PHOTO: Getty Images

Ranked No.1134 in the world, Spargo has only made the cut at the Masters once before and that was back in 2007 when he finished tied for 65^th. But his form has been improving lately, which was evident at the West Australian Open last month where he led into the final round and faded to finish tied third.

“Obviously the more you put yourself up there in contention and playing with the lead, you get used to it,” he said. “So all the experiences definitely help and hopefully it holds you in good stead.”

Tournament officials warned Spargo and Wright about slow play on the 10^th hole and were put on the clock. When they caught up to he group in front at the 12^th they were taken off the clock. Officials began timing them again after the par-5 14^th hole when they dropped behind again.

Victorian Lucas Herbert salutes the crowd after his course record breaking 65. PHOTO: Getty Images

It was on the 14^th where Wright’s drive flew right into trees and finished wedged between two tree stumps cut just above the level of the ground. After some deliberation, he tried to extricate the ball but it ricocheted off a tree and finished a few metres in front of him. He finish with a bogey 6 on the hole, which was one of four bogies he accrued on the back nine as he struggled to tame the strong wind.

Earlier, the Queenslander birdied the 5th, 6^th and 8^th holes to get to 11 under and lead the field by three strokes. But then he got blown off course by the strong winds, which he hopes won’t be any tougher in the final round.

“I certainly hope not because if it is I'm going to be a wreck tomorrow night,” Wright laughed.

“Yeah, who knows what Melbourne weather is going to bring?

“Today was definitely brutal. I'm really going to need to rest up tonight because I'm fried after today.”

Earlier in the day, 18-year-old amateur Lucas Herbert set a new Metropolitan course record with a seven under 65.

The teenager, who is a member at nearby Commonwealth Golf Club, took advantage of the good scoring conditions in the morning to make nine birdies, with eight of those coming in a ten hole stretch from the 3rd hole. A birdie, bogey, par finish to his round had him signing for 65 just as the forecasted northerly wind rally started gaining strength and the final pairings were heading out onto the course.

“I was quite fortunate to get out before the weather really hit,” said Herbert, who was runner up in the World Junior Championship and World Amateur Team individual trophy earlier this year.

“That wind was really tough in the last four holes. I was fortunate to get out before that obviously. Made use of the great golf course. It's in awesome condition for the tournament and to get out first thing in the morning is even better.”

Herbert, who hails from Bendigo, started the day 10 shots behind 36-hole leader Wright. On Sunday, he will play in the second to last group behind Wright and Spargo. Expressing some wisdom beyond his years, Herbert said there was no pressure on him at all to try and become the first amateur ever to win the Australian Masters.

“It's almost expected that we are not going to do as well,” he said. “I feel like we're kind of there to get the experience but we're not expected to win.

“I feel like I play probably better when I'm not expected to play well, or I'm expected to finish lower down. That probably suits me really that we're not expected to win.

“But with what's gone on the last two years with amateurs playing so well in professional events, there's always a chance that guys are going to come out and shoot really good scores.

“I'm not really too worried. I'm just going to go out there and do my thing. I played really well today and I'm not expecting to have another 65 tomorrow.

Adam Scott had some bunker trouble during is third round but is still within range of the lead heading into the final round. PHOTO: Getty Images

“But if I can hit the shots into the right spots and keep the ball below the hole and maybe knock a couple of putts in, I can give myself a good chance and that's all I want to do. If I give myself a chance with nine holes to play, anything can happen.”

Herbert is among a trio of young Victorian amateurs who have continued to impress every day of the Masters.

Herbert’s Eisenhower Trophy team-mate and good friend, 16-year-old Ryan Ruffels, has captured plenty of attention during the past few days, as has Metropolitan member Todd Sinnott, who has had the lead at different stages during the tournament. Ruffels (72) and Sinnott (77) head into the final round tied for 32^nd place.

"We have so much competitive drive with each other and we both want to beat each other as bad as the other one," Herbert said. “But we're obviously not stealing each other's money, because we are all amateurs, so we like seeing everybody else playing well”

Herbert heads into the final round in a share of third place with South Australian Nick Cullen (66) and New South Welshman James Nitties (67) on what is one of the most congested leaderboards in Australian Masters history. There are 23 players within five shots of Spargo including Geoff Ogilvy (71) at five under, World No.2 Adam Scott (71) at four under and Jarrod Lyle (71) at three under.

With winds expected to gust up to 30km/h on Sunday afternoon, the Masters Gold Jacket is certainly up for grabs.

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