Cain gazzumps early leaders at QLD PGA

BY Bruce Young | Von Nida Tour | 2006 Queensland PGA | Round One | 02 Nov 2006

The early morning rounds of 64 recorded by Gold Coast locals Peter Senior and Gavin Hills appeared set to lead the opening round at the Greater Building Society’s Queensland PGA Championship, that is until Brisbane golfer, Marcus Cain, playing in one of the late afternoon groups, put together eight birdies for a round of 63 and the first round lead.

It was a impressive effort given the more trying afternoon conditions as winds gusting to 20 kilometres per hour swept across the Emerald Lakes layout and turned a morning ’birdie fest’ into something very different in the afternoon. “I played nicely from tee to green and actually if you had to imagine the round you wanted to play in these conditions then this round would be it,” said Cain after his round.

Cain has spent much of this year in the United States attempting to get starts on the Nationwide Tour via Monday qualifying.

“I tried nine Monday qualifiers but missed out by one or two shots nearly every time. It has been frustrating because I feel I have been playing well in recent months without making any putts and typically taking 33 putts every time. Today however I probably had 22 or 23 putts. I played at the USPGA Tour School last week and played from tee to green as well as I did today but made no putts and missed by two.”

“I stayed in the US for much of the time this year as I have a base in Chattanooga and it was great to have a house to live in while I tried to get starts on the Nationwide Tour, added Cain. “It was too difficult to try and play the Hooters and other Tours in addition to attempting to get starts on the Nationwide.”

“I have normally played well here at Emerald Lakes in the past, putting together some good scores but have often been ten or so shots from the winner given how low the scoring can be here.”

Victoria’s Michael Curtain, who this year led the Victorian Pro Am Order of Merit and at one stage had the best round of the afternoon going, has struggled in the Von Nida Tour events but he has made a good start today. His hole in one at the 13th kick started a round that he started at the 10th and he would eventually finish with five under 66. He was looking to have the best round of the afternoon until Cain’s homeward nine of 30 saw him take the tournament lead.

The Emerald Lakes layout yielded 42 scores under par amongst the morning field but as the day wore on the afternoon field had their difficulties. Only 25 players in the afternoon were able to break par so at the end of day one 67 players are under par ensuring a cut to the top fifty and ties tomorrow evening of around four under or thereabouts, subject to tomorrow’s conditions.

Senior and Hills are at seven under 64 while the Adam Blyth went around in 65 early in the day to be in fourth place at six under.

The large group at five under par 66 includes last week’s Queensland Open runner up, Brad Kennedy, South Australian, Jason Dawes, Brisbane’s Shane Tait, Victorian, Heath Reed, and local golfer Craig Cork who is an employee of the company who own Emerald Lakes, Nifsan.

Source – PGA Australia

Photo – Anthony Powter