Golf: Local knowledge pays off

Craig Palmer. Photo / Getty Images

Few people know The Hills better than club professional Craig Palmer and he put his local knowledge to good use during the third round of the New Zealand Open.

The 34-year-old fired a seven-under 65 yesterday as he moved to a share of fifth place at nine-under for the tournament, three strokes back from Australian leader Dimitrios Papadatos.

Palmer had nine birdies and two bogeys during his third round, which was played in perfect conditions on the course owned by Michael Hill, jeweller.

"I probably only hit two poor shots all day. One of them wasn't even a poor shot; I hit the shot that I wanted, I just got a bit of bad luck."

Palmer loves teeing it up on the course where he has worked for six years - he also finished in a share of 21st at the New Zealand PGA Championship last year.

"It does blow my mind a little bit," he said. "I have said to a couple of people that I am capable of hitting the shots, it just depends if I can keep it together in this big tournament situation because that is certainly a bit different for me. [Yesterday] I stayed really calm and I stuck to my routines and I am as proud of that as I am of anything."

As the search continues to find the first Kiwi champion in more than 10 years, Palmer shapes as a potential candidate to put his name on the Brodie Breeze Trophy.

"It honestly didn't enter my mind at any stage," Palmer said of his tournament aspirations. Now it's something he can realistically think about.