Eighteen-year-old Eric Barclay of Bendigo, the overnight leader, measures his putt on the 12th hole. 120709RG23
BENDIGO teenager Eric Barclay takes a six-shot lead into today's final round of the Warrnambool Junior Open.
The 18-year-old, playing off a handicap of +1, carded a one-over par 73 in yesterday's opening round at Warrnambool Golf Club.
Eric, a member of Neangar Park Golf Club, played the back nine, his opening nine holes, in a sizzling four-under 33.
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Defending champion, fellow Neangar Park member Justin Williams, finished with a 79, playing off a handicap of two.
He finds himself six shots adrift in the race for the title but just three behind in the battle for handicap honours. Warrnambool's Lachlan Peters, playing off a handicap of 21, is second in the handicap section, two behind Eric after his nett 76.
In the under 18 section, which doubles as the Corangamite and District championship, Port Fairy member Nelson Williams is the leader after a five-over 77 in a close contest.
He has a one-shot lead from Thirteenth Beach's Jack Murdoch and Benalla's Dale Crothers. Midlands' Lachlan Hewitt has a one-shot lead in the under 18 handicap section.
Cobden's Henry Green holds a slender lead in both the scratch and handicap sections in the under 15 competition. The 15-year-old, playing off a handicap of six, produced a five-over 77, two ahead of Chalambar's Taine Pearse (79-7-72) in the scratch section and one better in the handicap division.
In what is shaping as a successful competition for Neangar Park members, Tahlia Holmberg leads the girls' section after posting an 86 off her handicap of seven. Royal Canberra member Rebecca Davey, off 15, leads the handicap section after shooting 92.
The nine-hole event is shaping as a tight contest with Warrnambool's Dominic Sycopoulis (54) leading by one from Dixie's Callum Wellwood-Kane while four players are tied three shots further back.
Play in today's final round starts at 8.30am.
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