Porter fires up Open hopes with course record
BY iseekgolf.com | Australasian PGA Tour | 2007 British Open International Final Qualifying | Round One | 06 Feb 2007
New South Welshman Ewan Porter has fired a course record 7 under 66 during the first round of International Final Qualifying today at The Lakes course in Sydney to take a one shot lead into the second and final round.
24-year-old Porter, winner of the 2005 PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School birdied the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 16th & 17th and eagled the par 5, 14th on his way to a course record at the par 73 layout.
Melbourne’s Nigel Stivala has finished the first round one shot behind Porter and is in second place on 6 under. Stivala finished 26th at 2006 Qualifying School.
2002 Bridgestone Open winner on the Japan Golf Tour, Queensland’s Scott Laycock is a further shot back on 5 under, ahead of Victorian Peter Wilson and 2000 Greg Norman Holden International winner Lucas Parsons, who are T4 on 4 under.
A further shot back is Victorian Andrew Tschudin and WA’s Steve Dartnell T6 on 3 under.
Home town favourite Craig Parry has fired an opening round of 2 under 71 as has 2004 Junior World Champion, Jason Day.
Players are back out on course for the second and final round today (36 holes are played toay). They are vying for one of four places to gain immediate entry into the 2007 Open Championship to be held from July 19-22 at Carnoustie, Scotland.
Queenslander Wayne Perske has withdrawn after 18 holes due to badly bleeding blisters on his feet and Richard Swift and New Zealand’s Tim Wilkinson did not hand in their cards.
Rain and storms have been predicted for later this afternoon.
Source – PGA Tour
Photo – Anthony Powter
