Dodt maintains lead at Royal Pines

If Adam Scott is to win a second Australian PGA Championship title, he must overcome a four-shot deficit from leader Andrew Dodt going into the weekend at Royal Pines.

Varner finished runner-up after a three-way playoff with Dylan Frittelli and eventual 2015 champion Nathan Holman a year ago.

Hall made birdies on the 12th, 14th, 15th and last in his remaining seven holes while Varner’s birdie-birdie finish to complete his weather-delayed first round lifted him to the top of the leaderboard with Dodt.

“I didn’t really hit it that great on the back nine”.

“I feel really comfortable with the wind and the greens – drove really well”, Dodt said.

Varner had a hectic week at the event that is co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European Tours.

After storms delayed the end of the first round, Poulter was forced to set his alarm for a little earlier than usual for Friday’s play.

“It’s going to take at least that tomorrow if not a little bit more so there’s still a slight chance”, he said adding that patience would be key for him on Sunday. “There might have been 1,000 pictures out there”, he said in a news conference, before filling the trophy with champagne, taking a sip and passing it around.

Australian Adam Scott is one shot behind the trio, buoyed after birdies on his final three holes to sit in a six-way tie for fifth at four under. The 30-year-old has not been convincing enough in contention on other occasions, though, to be trusted at a best-price 15-8. You just want to play each round.

The United States’ Varner was trailing Brisbane native Andrew Dodt by two strokes heading into the final round, but backed up a 5-under-par third round with a brilliant run home.

After starting on the back nine, he was down to 11-under before he triple- bogeyed the par-4 fourth when he hit it into a hazard off the tee, then went into the bunker before three putting. I’ve made some pretty good putts this week.

He failed find the fairway on the first four holes on the back nine, however, and drives into the water at the 10th and 13th resulted in bogeys.

Four shots off the lead are Adam Scott (70), who had an terrible back nine, and experienced PGA Tour campaigner John Senden (68). “Three years, I haven’t won, so this is special”.