Golf: Disaster round as score soars to 16 over

A disastrous display sent New Zealand tumbling out of the reckoning in the third round of the Asia-Pacific teams championship in Australia yesterday.

New Zealand, overnight leaders by two shots from defending champions Australia, produced a catastrophic 16-over 229 for the best three counting scores in Port Douglas, the 10th best score of the day.

Hosts Australia, gunning for their fifth Nomura Cup title in the last seven biennial contests, took the lead with a three-over 216 to be four-over for the tournament after 54 holes.

They held a 10-shot advantage over eight-time cup winners Japan and Korea, with a further shot back to New Zealand in fourth place.

While none of the 15 nations managed to tame the windy conditions and tricky pin placements, New Zealand succumbed with no one managing a solid display.

"It was probably the worst single-day performance in my time with New Zealand Golf," national coach Mal Tongue said.

Best of the New Zealanders was Mathew Holten with a three-over 74, while fellow Waikato player Brad Shilton had a six-over 77. Brad Iles, of Wellington, and Mark Smith, of Rotorua, both scored 78.

In the individual rankings, the best-placed New Zealander was Shilton in seventh, with a five-over 218.

- NZPA