Perth International

Rumford equals course record as Ninyette leads in Perth

ESPN staff

October 19, 2013

Brett Rumford equalled the course record at Lake Karrinyup © Getty Images

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Brett Rumford equalled the course record at Lake Karrinyup to move within a shot of Brody Ninyette's lead in the Perth International.

Rumford carded a round of 65 to match the record and move to seven-under-par after his three rounds, while Ninyette shot a five-under round of 67 to move to outright leader at eight-under.

Jin Jeong joins Rumford one stroke off the pace following his round of 69, along with Denmark's JB Hansen, who scored 66 on his third visit.

British duo Richard Finch and Ross Fisher are part of a quintet a further shot back at six-under overall - they sit alongside James Nitties, Jason Scrivener and Fredrik Andersson Hed.

"The greens were receptive with the wedges, and my wedge game was great today," Rumford said. "It was a mixed bag of everything that was working well. It's disappointing to have three putted the last, no doubt about it, but obviously my mind set, playing so well, was too aggressive on the last.

"It's great to play in front of the local galleries. It was nice to get out there and just to play some nice golf. The crowds were starting to increase as my round progressed and it was giving me an indication of how I was going.

"It would be massive to win on home soil. You win a couple of times and you think, let's go out and do it again but it doesn't quite happen that way and you realise how hard it is to win out here.

"There are so many great players, and the last nine holes of any championship can just swing so quickly, as it did in China. Mikko Ilonen got within one or two, whatever it was, and all of the sudden a few holes later, I'm leading by six just in the space of nothing and it can turn just as quick, negatively, as it can positively. I've got myself in position to win; I'll be working hard and that's what I'll be focusing on for the next 24 hours.

"Winning in front of your home crowd, there would be nothing better than that, that's for sure."

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