Lonard still able to smile after two late bogeys
IN: News | Australasian PGA | MasterCard Masters (2003) | Round One | by Bruce Young | 04 Dec 2003
Peter Lonard's two late bogeys saw him slip from the outright lead but he still shares the lead with Queenslander Marcus Cain at the end of round one of the MasterCard Australian Masters.
Playing late in the day, Lonard bogied the par three 15th and, after a visit to the fairway bunker at the 18th from which he produced a miracle shot earlier this year to win the event, he was unable to advance the ball very far and was left with an 80-metre pitch to try and save par. He did not convert and although disappointed with the bogeys he felt that his score of 66 was one he would have been happy to accept prior to tee off.
Lonard will morwe than likely have better early morning conditions tomorrow and he is looking forward to continuing the roll.
"I may have gotten a little ahead of myself today when I got to five under through nine and eight under through fifteen but in the end I am happy."
Cain was in two and a half hours earlier than Lonard but his round was full of merit and reflects an improved fitness regime of late.
"I have lost about six kilos of late through a fitness regime and diet and am now feeling stronger at the need of tournaments than previously." He was out in 33 and back in the same number for his 66.
Jarrod Moseley bogied two holes late for his 5 under 67. He reached seven under with two holes to play and was tied with Lonard at that stage but drove it in the water at the 17th and then bogied the difficult 18th.
Also at five under with Moseley are Robert Allenby, Peter Senior and Geoff Ogilvy. The disappointments of day one were Adam Scott who dropped several shots late in the day for one under and Steve Elkington who double bogied the final hole to close with even par. Rod Pampling, Craig Parry and Peter O'Malley are well in the hunt at three under.
It was a day of contrast in terms of weather. From perfect early morning conditions to thunderstorms in the late morning and cold, breezy conditions to finish the day.
55 players broke par on day one and the cut for tomorrow looks to be around one or two under.
