Mitch McPhee is poised to claim his second Maitland Golf Club A-grade title, leading the field by 14 shots into Saturday's final round.
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McPhee sits on one-under for an overall score of 212, with his nearest rival 2015 winner Hayden Gulliver on 226.
The easy-going McPhee won the title in 2009 as a 19-year-old and finished second to Mitch Laney in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
“I’m in the best form of my life. I am hitting the ball really well. The only thing letting me down is my putting,” McPhee said of this first three rounds of 69, 72 and an even-par 71.
I’m in the best form of my life. I am hitting the ball really well. The only thing letting me down is my putting
- Mitch McPhee
“Leading by 14 I’m pretty confident of winning, although I have seen it is forecast to rain on Saturday and I don’t like playing in the rain.
“It’s better than last time around and hopefully will make up for those three losses to Mitch Laney. The 17th hole was my nemesis in all three of those titles, but with 14 up my sleeve I should be right.”
McPhee took a year off from golf last year because of work commitments and missed the two previous Maitland Golf Club championships as he was away.
“I’m really enjoying my golf. I still only play once a week, but I will be playing pennants this season, which should be good fun,” he said.
“We’ve got some really exciting youngsters in Clayton Small, Trent Park and Hayden Gulliver when he is available”
McPhee will have bragging rights over his pennants teammates with 2014 club champion Clayton Small and this year’s skipper Chris Burdekin sitting third and fourth respectively going into the final round on 229 and 230 respectively.
“I think the younger blokes are bit crook on me as I only play once a week and they are out here most days,” he said.
McPhee said he would not change his approach in the final round.
“I’ve never had any coaching and only play once a week, it’s just a game I have loved since I was a kid following my dad around the course,” McPhee said.
“I suppose the game has come naturally to me. I don’t complicate it too much.”
In B-grade Peter Adams leads the field with 254 after three rounds. He is followed by Ross Harland (261), Ross Haynes 262 and 15-year-old Lachland Sheeley on 266.
Small, 16, leads the junior title on 229, from 17-year-olds Trent Park (232) and Will Fraser (244), with 12-year-old Bowen Small signalling his a star of the future fourth on 245.
David Brennan leads the field in C-grade on 270, two shots ahead of Frank Van Dyk, with Shane Redman third on 275.
Frank Dodds, who has been a member at Maitland for more than 50 years, is fourth on 279.
Peter Wheelhouse leads the Senior/Veterans on 231, eight strokes ahead of Grey Eyb. Stephen Lill is third on 241, with Ian Jeffery fourth on 244.