Norris leads in Toowoomba

BY PGA of Australia | Australasian PGA Tour | 2013 Queensland PGA Championship | Round One | 15 Feb 2013

South Australian Jason Norris has taken the first round lead at the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship.

On fire early, Norris made the turn at 5-under the card and was confident of securing an elusive 59 on the par 68 City Golf Club layout.

“I started off hitting a few good shots early and putted quite well – holed a few 15 footers which I haven’t been doing recently,” said Norris.

“I never really missed a putt within five or six feet today which is unusual for me.”

“I don’t think I have ever thought about 59 until the last few holes but today I actually had it in my mind after about 13.”

Looking on track for the magic number, the 40-year-old needed a par on the 18th yet walked off with his first bogey of the round to finish at 8-under 60.

“I was 8-under with about six to go and got to 9-under quite early – its only par 68 so I had a good chance,” added Norris.

“I was starting to get a bit nervy and just told myself to commit to every shot – I hit a great drive down the right side of 18 and had 140 meters into the breeze.”

“It was just a nice little 7 iron and I hit a great shot actually, straight at the pin but it just drifted a little to the right, it was a bit long and ended buried in the down slope of a bunker. So I virtually had no chance of making par.”

Norris was disappointed not to have achieved the milestone but was happy with his performance, particularly with the flat stick.

“I got on a run early and just kept it going, I was a bit disappointed with 60 not 59 but that’s the way it is,” said Norris who has set a new course record on the par 68 City Golf Club layout.

“I have been playing great but just haven’t been putting and pitching well.”

“I worked a bit with Sean Lynch yesterday, my sports psych and we did a couple of good things which really helped with my putting.”

Norris will start the second round with a one stroke lead from Victorian Timothy Wood, while a further shot back at 6-under 62 is Tasmanian Ryan McCarthy, Queensland amateur Kevin Marques as well as the New Zealand pair of Michael Hendry and Brad Shilton.

The second round of the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship will get underway tomorrow morning at 6.30am

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