Golf: Rookie plays it cool on 18th

Poker-playing rookie James Nitties' golfing gamble on a shot into Coolum's water-laced 18th green made a bold statement to his rivals in the $A1 million ($NZ1.09 million) Australian PGA Championship. After an absorbing tussle with lean Texan Bob Estes, Nitties calmly sunk his 1m uphill birdie and walked off the final green with a one shot lead at 14-under and a psychological edge for tomorrow.

Nitties hit the perfect eight-iron into the 18th green and for a change the pressure was on Estes who over-cooked his approach and three-putted.

"I'm happy with the last hole, it changed the whole outlook for tomorrow," said Nitties.

Estes missed his short putt to save par for a share of the lead and later suggested Nitties had been on the verge of destructing during his round. Nitties' last hole birdie, though, was clearly a mental victory for the 22-year-old Novacastrian who'll partner Estes again in the final round tomorrow.

"Steady Eddie" Estes applied the heat to Nitties all day, his radar-like tee shots monotonously splitting the fairways. But the one-month professional and former top amateur, playing only his fourth tournament in the play-for-pay ranks, stood up to the pressure exceptionally and came out on top when it counted. Estes wasn't happy with his round of 70, describing it as "the most frustrating" of his life.

"I'm so frustrated I'm about to explode right now, but I'll get over it," he said. "I played so good ... and only shot two under. I should have shot five or six under, I hit it that good." Nitties (67-65-70) finished their battle on 14-under with Estes (63-70-70) one shot back. Another American, former US Open winner Corey Pavin (67-70-67), defending champion Peter Senior (69-67-68) and Peter O'Malley (68-67-69) are all well placed to win today. Australian Open winner Peter Lonard (69-65-71), shooting for his third win in a row, was still in contention on 11 under thanks to a big par saving putt on the last hole.

While Estes talked up his own game, he said he felt Nitties had got away with a round that could have dropped him out of the tournament.

"As tidy as my round was for the most parts, anybody watching the telecast could tell he was living on the edge out there," said Estes, who appeared to dispute whether Nitties' approach to the seventh green had bounced above the hazard when seeking a penalty drop.

"He might have shot a good score out there, but he was close to disaster many times. But he hung in and hit the recovery shots."

Nitties didn't totally disagree with Estes, saying he had played some scratchy golf, had hit it in the water and had three-putted.

"He's probably saying that because I did a few bad things out there," said Nitties. "I wouldn't say I got lucky but I scrambled well."

Senior, who kept his promise to attack Coolum, finished with a final hole birdie while Pavin produced some magic of his own to par the last after his ball came to rest against a rake, leaving a horror chip.