Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Jeffrey Guan posted his third successive sub-70 return to maintain Australian hopes of victory in the 33rd World Amateur Team Championships for the Eisenhower Trophy.
On another sweltering day at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Guan added a 68 to earlier rounds of 68 and 69.
With a 54-hole total of 205, Guan heads into Saturday’s final round in joint second place individually, one stroke behind American Gordon Sargent, number two in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
With Jack Buchanan contributing a one-under 71 – his best round of the week to date – Australia had a third-day team total of 139. Karl Vilips’s 73 was discounted in the event in which the best two daily scores in each three-man team are counted.
Australia’s team aggregate of 19-under 413 puts them in fourth place – five strokes behind the pace-setting Americans and just one behind France and Norway, who share second spot.
Of the other Asia-Pacific nations, New Zealand and China are tied for ninth on 417, followed by Chinese Taipei (tied 14th, 430), Korea (tied 16th, 421), Japan (22nd, 423), Thailand (31st, 435), Singapore (32nd, 439), India (33rd, 440), UAE (35th, 461), and Guam (36th, 484).
Sargent, who rattled off four birdies in his opening eight holes en route to a 67, said: “It was probably the best I’ve played all week. I didn’t necessarily score as well as I hit it, but it was nice to play well on moving day and put ourselves in good position for tomorrow.”
The Americans, who are seeking their first Eisenhower Trophy win since 2014, stand at 24-under par at 408.
The USA’s Nick Dunlap and David Ford each finished with 69s, bringing the team’s third round tally to an eight-under 136.
“They have been a terrific team, not just playing, but they’ve bonded really well,” said American Captain Mark Newell. “They know when to stay aggressive, when to stay patient, and I expect we’ll have another really good day tomorrow.”
France, with a 67 from Bastien Amat and a 72 from Hugo Le Goff, lost ground to the Americans while remaining in second place alongside Norway.
“Today was probably the most difficult day of the tournament for us,” said France Captain Antoine Delon. “Bastien did a great job for the team and Hugo hung on for even par. Tomorrow we’ll play in the last group with the US and Norway and it’s going to be a very good round.”
Norway, which is eyeing its first medal in team history, climbed nine places on the strength of a 66 from Michael Mjaaseth and a 68 from Herman Sekne, who is 24th in the WAGR. The 10-under team total led the field in the third round.
“I think we’re in perfect position for tomorrow,” said Mjaaseth, a sophomore at Arizona State University. “There were some tough conditions this afternoon. The wind really picked up so that was huge to get two good rounds in for the team.”
