MELBOURNE: Defending champion Ian Poulter jumped to a one-stroke lead yesterday and was poised for a final round battle with world No. 5 Adam Scott at the Australian Masters at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath.
England’s Poulter came from five shots off the overnight lead to shoot a masterful eight-under 64 to be 13-under 203 after 54 holes and just shading Scott (67).
At one stage Poulter looked certain to challenge the course record of 63 set by Australian Cruze Strange last year.
Both he and Scott refused to concede ground as the battle to don the tournament’s gold winner’s jacket appeared to be just between them over Sunday’s final 18 holes.
“We have a few shots on the field but we can’t go at it as if it’s match play,” Poulter said.
“It might be a little different if we are still in front coming down the stretch but anyone back in the field is capable of shooting a low number on this golf course.”
Home favorite Scott agreed. “I’m not going to start worrying about Ian (Poulter). You only worry about that coming down the stretch. There’s a low score (for anyone) out there if you play well.”
Australian halfway leader Matthew Guyatt (75) was six shots off the lead in third spot.
Poulter and Scott put on a master class playing alongside each other in Saturday’s third round and fired 17 birdies between them.
Poulter, who won the WGC-HSBC Champions in China earlier this month, bounced out of the blocks and was six under for the day after 10 holes.
Scott said this left him with no choice but to knuckle down and keep in touch.
“He (Poulter) was going to run away with it the way he started. Sometimes when that happens you can see the shots (the other player is making) and follow his lead,” Scott said.
Quizzed about his chances of winning his first event for the year, Scott said: “We’re all going up against one of the toughest competitors in the game and he’s leading.”
Scott lamented two soft bogeys on holes 16 and 17 and alluding to his collapse in this year’s British Open at Royal Lytham added with a wry grin: “I’ve done that before. I need to eliminate any mistakes tomorrow.”
Scott said he had to make a five-meter birdie putt at the final hole to match Poulter’s brilliant 9-iron approach which finished less than a meter from the hole from 146 meters.
“I really needed to make it. He’s high on confidence and a tough competitor. It was important I did not let him get two ahead,” he said.
Poulter said playing alongside Scott had helped his game.
“Collectively we had 17 birdies. Adam played some great golf as well. It’s nice to play with someone you know really well,” he said.
“You feed off them, they feed off you, and I think that’s what we did today.”
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell moved to joint 13th at one-under after Saturday’s round of seven birdies in a five-under 67.
New Zealand’s Mark Brown climbed to fourth position at six-under after a 67, while fellow Kiwi Gareth Paddison shared fifth position with Australians Chris Campbell and Craig Hancock at five-under.
Poulter leads Scott by one in Australian Masters
Poulter leads Scott by one in Australian Masters
Last-gasp penalty sends Atalanta past Dortmund and into last 16
- Dortmund’s Bensebaini was sent off after his studs caught the head of Atalanta’s Krstovic in the penalty area
- The hosts had to fight back following last week’s 2-0 loss in Germany
BERGAMO, Italy: Lazar Samardzic slotted home a stoppage-time penalty to complete a dramatic 4-1 victory for Atalanta over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, sending the Italian side into the Champions League’s last 16 with a comeback 4-3 aggregate triumph.
Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini was sent off after his studs caught the head of Atalanta’s Nikola Krstovic in the penalty area and Samardzic converted the spot kick in the 98th minute to send the Italians through. Atalanta will now face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the round of 16 with the draw on Friday.
The hosts had to fight back following last week’s 2-0 loss in Germany, and Gianluca Scamacca tapped in at the far post to give them a fifth-minute lead as they got off to a dream start.
Dortmund had their share of chances but it was their keeper, Gregor Kobel, who was busiest in the first half, twice denying Nicola Zalewski. He was beaten, however, on the stroke of halftime when Davide Zappacosta’s shot was deflected into the net off Bensebaini to make it 2-0.
Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi made the save of the match when he tipped Serhou Guirassy’s low drive wide in the 49th minute, to protect their two-goal advantage. Dortmund went even closer in the 53rd with Maximilian Beier’s shot bouncing off the post.
Instead it was the hosts who scored again thanks to Mario Pasalic’s header at the far post to go 3-0 up and take control of the tie.
Dortmund, however, bounced back with substitute Karim Adeyemi adding instant pace to their game and curling his 75th-minute shot into the top corner as the visitors hoped to take the contest into extra-time.
Yet Bensebaini then tried to clear a cross in the box with a backheel but caught the head of Krstovic, who went down bleeding. The hosts were awarded a penalty following a lengthy VAR review and Samardzic beat Kobel to send his team through with the last kick of the game.
