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Kirk ties Herman at Moonah Classic

Fri 5th, February 2010

Victoria, Australia (Sports Network) - Chris Kirk fired a seven-under 65 to erase a 10-shot deficit and tie Jim Herman for the lead Saturday after three rounds of the Moonah Classic.

After setting the 18- and 36-hole tournament scoring records, Herman struggled to a three-over 75 on the windy Moonah Links course and joined Kirk at nine- under 207.

That tied the 54-hole record set by Miguel Angel Carballo last year.

The co-leaders shared a four-stroke advantage over fellow American Scott Gutschewski (71) and Australians Andrew Dodt (68), Alistair Presnell (70) and Jarrod Lyle (72). Presnell is the defending champion.

Eleven players were another shot further back at four-under 212.

Kirk played eight groups ahead of Herman and wasted little time in mounting a charge, making four birdies in a five-hole stretch that began at No. 2.

He added birdies at the 10th, 12th and 15th holes to complete a bogey-free round that has the 24-year-old in good position to try for his first Nationwide Tour win.

Kirk spent hours on the putting green after taking 32 putts in the second round. He needed just 26 putts to get around the course Saturday.

"Practice has never paid off as much as yesterday's session did," Kirk said. "As bad as the putting was yesterday, it was that good today."

Herman, also seeking his first win, struggled from the start. He began the round with a bogey at No. 1, then bogeyed back-to-back holes later on the front nine to make the turn in 39 shots.

After another bogey at the 11th, Herman finally posted his first birdie of the round at the 12th. That was followed by another bogey at the 13th, then a birdie at the 15th.

Herman's 75 was 13 shots worse than his eye-opening 62 in the first round, although he considered Saturday's outing "not that bad a round."

"It was very difficult today," Herman said. "I was trying to stay positive but I knew it was going to be a grind."

NOTES: If Herman shoots a 68 or better on Sunday, he would at least tie the tournament scoring record of 275 set by Ewan Porter when he won in 2008...Herman would then have his name on the record for all four rounds.