Price secures day one lead at Vic Open
BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2006 Victorian Open | Round One | 03 Feb 2006
Sydney young gun Aron Price fired a seven under par 65 to hit the lead after the opening round of the Victorian Open Championship.
Joining the 23-year-old on top of the leader board was father-in-waiting Gary Simpson, who spent the past seven weeks resting at home in Adelaide.
Veteran Mike Harwood turned back the clock on a day of low scoring to shoot 66 and sit in third place with Queenslander Matt Keegan.
One stroke further back is a group of seven players including Matt Ballard (Qld), local professionals Heath Reed and the newlywed Michael Light, Andrew McKenzie (NSW), another South Australian Henry Perks, West Australian Tony McFadyean and Brad Heaven from New Zealand.
Aron Price is one of many up-and-coming Australians with the pedigree to make it in the world of professional golf. He showed he had plenty in the tank with a tie for 13th place at the Australian Masters in December, a result that earned a top-60 finish on the Order of Merit and direct entry into the big tournaments ahead.
That performance at Huntingdale backed up a decorated US college career, including All-American honours in 2005 alongside the all-conquering Ryan Moore.
The 23-year-old from Cronulla grabbed seven birdies and a spectacular eagle on the par-five 15th hole on his way to a classy 65 in the first round of the Victorian Open.
Price holed his third shot with a lob-wedge after cleverly avoiding cross-bunkers set into the Woodlands fairway. “I had 72 to the flag, landed it long and spun it back into the hole,” he explained after signing his card.
“I had a good yardage and it set up well for that club. Doing something like that certainly helps a lot when it comes to adding up the score.”
Co-leader Gary Simpson wasn’t expecting a virtuoso performance in his first event since taking an extended break. Lately he has been more concerned with preparing for the imminent birth of his first child than working on his golf swing.
But a bogey-free round was a wonderful tonic as he sets out on not only another golf season but also an exciting chapter in his life. He started fast with birdies on the opening two holes and kept building momentum all the way to the clubhouse.
Amateur honours in round one went to Victorian Andrew Tampion who overcame a slow start with an inward nine of 32 to set up a four-under par 68. Junior world champion Jason Day had 71.
Source – Victoria Golf
