Lyle makes his move
02/07/2010 01:21:41 AM
Victorian Jarrod Lyle has thrown down an early challenge to overnight leaders Chris Kirk and Jim Herman on the final day of the Moonah Classic, closing to within a shot of the American duo at Moonah Links.
Already a dual winner on the Nationwide Tour following wins at the Mexico and Knoxville Opens two years ago, Lyle has made the perfect start on Sunday with a birdie at the par-four 1st hole and an eagle at the par-five 2nd.
And with the leading duo both parring the opening hole to remain at nine-under, what had been a four-stroke cushion from the rest of the field has suddenly been slashed to just one with Lyle jumping to minus eight.
Two strokes further back is American Scott Stallings, who has also picked up three shots, through six holes, while Canadian Jon Mills has improved by two at the same point and is level with defending champ Alistair Presnell, Kiwis Gareth Paddison and Phil Tataurangi and Americans Joe Affrunti, Tag Ridings and Scott Gutschewski.
American Jin Park is putting together the best round of the day so far, having collected four birdies to the turn to move to four-under where he's one of a group of 11 players that also includes locals Andrew Buckle and Scott Laycock and last week's New Zealand Open winner Robert Gates.