CRAIG Boucher has shot a course record score at Buninyong Golf Club to take a stranglehold on the Ballarat District Golf Association’s 54-hole open championship.
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The record, once held by golfer Greg Norman, was smashed with an eight-under round of 64 on Sunday.
Boucher’s unofficial score could knock one stroke off existing record holder Brett Tolliday, who has held lowest round honours since 2010, with Norman holding the record with 66 since the late 1970s.
However, Buninyong president Ron Delaland said the round was yet to be ratified by the club.
BDGA president Wayne Hines said given the round was shot as part of a BDGA tournament and not at club competition level, Buninyong would have to take a course reading before granting it approval through the board or match committee.
Boucher, who plays off a plus-one handicap at Midlands, now leads the tournament by six shots over Kelly Lyle after the young gun finished with a five-under round of 67, courtesy of an incredible six-under par front nine.
Boucher flagged a need to improve his ball striking after an opening round of 73 at his home club.
The 13-time champion started poorly on Sunday with a bogey on his first hole, the 10th, before he rebounded to make the turn at two-under. Birdies on the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth holes saw him match Lyle at six-under (31) on the front nine.
“I sorted a couple of (technical) things out this morning before my round,” Boucher said.
“I’m not sure if they will give it to me with the tees the way they are.
“It was very tricky out there, but the greens were running very smoothly.”
For the women, Ballarat’s Kate McMahon closed the gap on Helen Pascoe with a second round 78. Pascoe leads McMahon by five shots on 158 heading into the final round at Ballarat Golf Club.
Meanwhile, Lachlan Hewitt leads the men’s B grade Stableford competition on 75 points, while Lee Venville holds a narrow lead in the C grade Stableford on 77.
Adrianna Cunnington leads the women’s B grade, also on 77, while Boucher and Lyle are tied on 139 nett each in the A grade handicap.
SCORES
MEN’S SCRATCH: Craig Boucher 137, Kelly Lyle 143, Darren Bowman 145, Corey Haase 147, Chris Van Der Horst 147
MEN’S A GRADE NETT: Craig Boucher, Kelly Lyle 139
MEN’S B GRADE: Lachlan Hewitt 75 points
MEN’S C GRADE: Lee Venville 77
WOMEN’S SCRATCH: Helen Pascoe 158, Kate McMahon 163
WOMEN’S B GRADE: Adrianna Cunnington 77
michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au
