Marchesani’s looks have drawn several comparisons to Lleyton Hewitt - he admitted: “I hear that all the time!” - and he showed similar grit to the Australian tennis legend by clawing back four strokes on the back nine.
Marchesani, who played four years of college golf at Oklahoma City University, shot two birdies and four bogeys - including three in a row from the No. 5 – on the front nine to lie 2-under, while Tarren made the turn at 6-under.
However, the gap closed to two after No. 10 as the Australian sank an 18-foot birdie putt and Tarren triple putted for a bogey. Marchesani then hit his tee shot on the par-3 14th to six feet and made another birdie before drawing level with an eagle on 15, as Tarren birdied.
“I knew that I’d played the back nine well all week and that if I kept hitting some good shots, there were birdies out there,” said Marchesani, making his PGA TOUR-China debut.
“I made a really good putt on 10 and that got the confidence up again. I probably hit my best drive of the week down 15 and only had a short iron in then had six or seven feet for eagle. Callum made a great putt for birdie there to let me know he was still around.”
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