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SYDNEY - Twenty-three years after his first attempt, golfer Craig Parry has put himself in contention to finally win an Australian Open after a stunning second round in Sydney today.
The 41-year-old set The Australian course alight with an eight-under-par round of 64 that equalled the record set by fellow Australians and former major winners Greg Norman and Steve Elkington.
Since finishing as the leading amateur behind eventual champion Tom Watson in the 1984 Open, Parry has dreamed of winning his national championship.
He has come agonisingly close, losing a playoff to John Morse at this venue back in 1990 and boasting a swag of other top-10 finishes, including equal second in 2002, third in 1997 and equal third in 1995.
Since winning the 1987 NSW Open, Parry has won 11 more times on home soil, including three Australian Masters titles, one PGA Championship, a Coolum Classic and the 2005 Heineken Classic.
The Stonehaven Cup is the glaring omission.
"I've got close," Parry said after firing eight birdies and no bogeys today.
"I've played really well in the Open over the years. I think 1984 was my first year with Tom Watson, I was leading amateur at Royal Melbourne.
"I do remember my Australian Opens and they do mean something special to me.
"I just haven't won it ... but we've got a long way to go."
Starting his round on the back nine, Parry birdied the 10th, 12th and 14th holes to make the turn at three-under.
He then stormed home with five more birdies to put his name in the record books alongside Norman and Elkington.
Parry, who can also boast two wins on the PGA Tour in the United States and has banked more than A$3.5 million ($3.96 million) in prizemoney, spent the past season playing in Japan as his career winds down.
So he was particularly pleased with today's record-equalling round.
"I was really just taking my time and trying to hit the shots in the right spot and have the opportunities to make the birdies," he said.
"It all just fell into place really."
If he can continue the sort of form he displayed today, Parry might finally be able to add the missing piece to his impressive career record.
- AAP
