Downes leads International Open Qualifying
BY iseekgolf.com | Australasian PGA Tour | 2005 British Open International Final Qualifying | Round One | 25 Jan 2005
Queenslander Chris Downes shot the lowest score of Round one, carding a 4 under 68, at Final International Qualifying for the Open Championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Victoria today.
Downes, 25, from the Queensland peninsula suburb of Redcliffe won the 2003 NSW PGA Championship on the Von Nida Tour shooting a four round total of 265 (-27) to win by eight shots. 2003 was his best year to date on the Australasian Tour as he also recorded a 2nd place at the Australian Open and a 3rd at the New Zealand Open, finishing 4th on the final Order of Merit. He is a former Queensland Junior and state representative and finished in the final 16 of the 2000 US Amateur Final.
Downes admitted conditions weren’t easy, but he was satisfied with his start.
“I didn’t play great today but I stayed out of trouble and holed some good putts. This is a course where I never feel comfortable”, he said. “I didn’t pepper the flag but I walked away with birdies.”
One shot behind Downes is Victorian David Diaz on his own, with a 3 under 69, followed by the pair of Marcus Cain (Qld) and Peter Fowler (NSW), who both finished 2 under, 70. Most players agreed that the intense heat from the northerly wind has dried the course out which made it hard and fast.
Closing on 71 are two Victorians, 2004 MasterCard Masters runner up David McKenzie and twice winner on the Japan Tour in 2004, Paul Sheehan and West Australian Steve Collins. Sheehan will be hoping for an extra birthday present tomorrow if he can move into the top 4 final placings.
With 14 players within five shots of Downes, tomorrow’s second round promises to be a thriller with a berth at The Open Championship at stake.
Temperatures in Melbourne peaked at 37 degrees today, with similar weather expected for tomorrow’s second and final round.
The top four players at the end of the final round tomorrow will automatically get a start at the Open Championship at St Andrews in July. In the event of ties, a sudden death play off will be conducted immediately after the last group have returned their scorecards.
Source – PGA Tour
Photo – Anthony Powter/Snaperture Sports
