Good cause drives Open leader Robert Gates

ONE day Robert Gates hopes to earn enough money to start using his game to raise money for skin cancer research.

Perhaps today, under the blazing southern sun, the American will take the first step by winning the Michael Hill New Zealand Open in Arrowtown.

Gates, a 24-year-old from Florida via Texas, has been involved in raising money for cancer research and awareness through helping his mother, who runs fund-raising fashion shows.

"One day I'm hoping to get something set up along the lines that every time I make a birdie or eagle it raises some money but it's been hard to get it off the ground so far because I haven't been making much money," Gates told the Sunday Star-Times.

He said skin cancer research was important to him as his family had known people who had suffered from it, and his girlfriend and caddie Lauren Johnson had also had a skin cancer removed.

In a tournament that has been bathed in sunshine, it would seem appropriate that Gates lifts the trophy today.

He will take a three-shot lead into the final round after posting a four-under 68 in the third round at The Hills.

A late bogey out of a bunker on the 18th didn't harm his advantage as nearest rival Andrew Dodt also stumbled with a dropped shot and finished the day at 13-under after a round of 70. Third is Australian Michael Curtain at 11-under with a group of three at nine-under.

Gates, who has led each day, made his charge through the middle of the back nine.

After making a bogey on the par-11th to have his lead shaved, the tall and powerful American was soon on a loose rein, rolling in short birdie putts at 12, 13, 14 and 15.

If Gates was feeling any pressure he wasn't showing it.

"I've never been in this position before so I don't know what to expect. I'm a little bit surprised to be here [leading] but I'm playing well and someone will have to shoot a great round to beat me and if they do that, I'll tip my hat to them."

Phil Tataurangi is the leading Kiwi at eight-under par, but has ruled himself out of contention after missing the tight 16th green and taking a bogey four and then blocking his tee shot into the water on the signature hole, the 17th, known as The Canyons.

"Looking at the leaderboard now, those two bogeys were quite costly," Tataurangi said.

"It looks like Rob is running away with it a little bit at the moment.

"I was there or thereabouts all day but a couple of mental errors cost me, so it looks out of reach for me."

Of the contenders back in the pack, the most experienced is Australian Mark Hensby, who has top-five finishes in the Masters and US Open to his name plus a US PGA Tour win.

He shot a six-under 66 to be at nine-under and seven shots off the lead. He was adamant his experience would count for nothing, despite the fact Gates is playing just his first tournament on the Nationwide Tour and is unproven under pressure.

"The kids are so good now, playing through Q-school [the PGA Tour qualifying tournament] and getting a lot of amateur golf, they're not scared any more.

"Years ago you could probably say they might get the wobbles, but not now."

- © Fairfax NZ News