Dartnall, Hickmott lead WA PGA

Australasian PGA Tour | 2010 Western Australian PGA Championship | Round One | 04 Nov 2010

West Australian Stephen Dartnall and Victorian Luke Hickmott lead the 2010 WA PGA Championship after a turbulent first day at Bunbury Golf Club.

The duo teed off in the morning field and despite a brief fifty minute rain delay, set the standard for the chasing pack with rounds of six-under par (66.)

Keeping up the momentum, last week’s WA Open winner Brad Kennedy shot five under to share third place with Hamish Robertson and Jordan Sherratt who this week plays his second ever professional event.

Looking for his first career title in his home state 26-year-old Dartnall said he took the rain delay in his stride.

“The rain didn’t disrupt my round very much, you have no choice but to deal with it,” he reasoned.

“The greens slowed down a little and it got a bit softer but they still rolled well.”

The former world amateur No. 1 has most recently been spending time on OneAsia where he finished T5 in the last event, the Midea China Classic, after leading at the half-way mark.

“The challenge is to try and do this for three more days.”

“You just have to put yourself in a position where you can win because the more you do that the better your chances.”

Victorian Hickmott also has a lot to play for this week.

With no current status on any international tours the Victorian has most recently been playing in Canada and is looking to find some form before he heads to the second stage of US Tour School.

“I was in Hawaii for the first stage of tour school finishing second, and I go back in two weeks time for the second stage,” he said.

“My game is in good shape and I feel ready to move up to the challenge of a bigger international tour.”

No stranger to low scores, the 29-year-old who fired a course record 11-under 61 in the first round of the 2009 Victorian PGA Championship at Sanctuary Lakes said his biggest challenge is keeping the birdies coming over the next few days.

“I don’t have problems shooting low scores but my problem has been consistency and finishing off tournaments.”

“I have been working on that this year and I’m looking forward to doing it this week.”

The second round of the WA PGA Championship will tee off tomorrow from 6.50am (local Perth time.)

Source – PGA Australia