Queensland PGA Championship: Late birdie blitz saves Cameron Smith after ‘frustrating day’

A late birdie blitz has kept Cam Smith in contention to win the Queensland PGA Championship after an otherwise “frustrating” day.

Cameron Smith has work to do - but a late birdie blitz on Saturday kept his hopes alive. Picture: Candice High/PGA of Australia

A late birdie blitz has kept Cam Smith in contention to win the Queensland PGA Championship after an otherwise “frustrating” third round at Nudgee on Saturday.

Two-over for the round after 14 holes on a windy Saturday, the 2022 British Open champion birdied three of his final four holes to post one-under 71.

It lifted the Queenslander overall to a six-under total of 210 and three behind tournament leader Phoenix Campbell, who shot a one-over 73 in a third round that included four bogeys and a double-bogey, but also a birdie on the par-three 18th that moved him a stroke clear of Jak Carter.

South Australian Carter zoomed up the leaderboard with a six-under 66, while New Zealand’s Kerry Mountcastle bettered that with an eight-under 64 to move to seven-under overall and secure himself a spot in Sunday’s final group alongside defending champion Campbell and Carter.

Cameron Smith smiles during his third round at Nudgee. Picture: Candice High/PGA of Australia

LIV star Smith will be in the second last group with Gold Coast amateur Billy Dowling, who dropped to six-under after a third-round 75 and New South Welshman Lucas Higgins, whose shot 71 on Saturday to move to five-under.

“I did what I had to do today,” said Smith, who started the day five shots adrift of Campbell.

“Although it was frustrating, I gained on the lead. It’s either you keep trying or pack up your bag and go home, and I’ve never done that once.

“It is frustrating for sure, particularly when it’s windy like this ... and I’ve hit plenty of good putts and a lot have hit the edge.

“I just stuck in there. I knew it was out there. I was hitting the ball great, and then holed a couple of putts at the end, so it was nice.”

Victorian Campbell said he “struggled all day but managed to hang tough”.

“It was a good outcome to finish with a birdie,” he said.

“To take the outright lead coming home is definitely a positive for me.”

Phoenix Campbell has the outright lead after three days. Picture: Candice High/PGA of Australia

Two players who didn’t struggle on Saturday were Mountcastle and Carter.

Mountcastle’s round included nine birdies and it was in stark contrast to his two-over 74 on Friday, when he was contemplating booking an early flight home to New Zealand before managing to make the cut with a late rally.

“My mindset (on Friday) afternoon wasn’t great,” he said.

“Today, I hit it pretty good … and putted very well.

“Playing consistent golf out there’s not easy. There’s a lot of ebbs and flows.”

Carter’s third-round 66 included an eagle on the 342m par-four 13th with an eight-iron that he holed from 153m.

“I hit it exactly as I had it in my head,” a delighted Carter said.

“I’m right where I need to be.”

Queensland PGA Round 3 leaderboard

-9: Phoenix Campbell (VIC)

-8: Jak Carter (SA)

-7: Kerry Mountcastle (NZL)

-6: Cameron Smith (QLD), Billy Dowling (a) (QLD),

-5: Lucas Higgins (NSW), Harry Hillier (NZL)

-4: Elvis Smylie (QLD), Blake Proverbs (QLD)