Relaxed Beck goes low at QLD PGA
BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2007 Queensland PGA | Round One | 01 Nov 2007
In warm and humid conditions, the 2007 Greater Building Society Queensland PGA Championship got underway at the Emerald Lakes Golf Club on the Gold Coast and scoring matched the conditions.
Overnight rain had softened up the par 71, 5795 metre layout even further than had been the case after rain earlier in the week and, with virtually no wind, the course was there for the taking, especially early. Many of those out early did just that.
29-year-old Darren Beck from Narrabeen on Sydney’s northern beaches teed off at 7.20am and took the limelight on day one with an opening round of nine under par 62. He would lead by two when the opening day’s proceedings were completed. Beck paid credit for his improved showing to a more relaxed attitude on the course.
“I sometimes feel that I put too much pressure on myself and today I definitely had a more relaxed attitude. Playing with my good friend Josh Lane was a bonus as well. Josh is from Narrabeen and we travel together all the time. To some extent if felt like a practice round really.”
“Like Gainsborough Greens last week, this course is set up for low scoring with a lot of wedges and short irons and you have to make a lot of birdies. The danger is that you can put too much pressure on yourself to do so but you can’t afford to force it.”
“I’ve been playing well for the last couple of months but the putting has let me down to some extent so have been putting a lot of work into that.” Another reason for Beck’s improved play may well be the pending arrival of he and his wife Alainah’s first child in March.
Beck heads for the Asian Tour School in the coming weeks as he seeks to get established on a tour that will give him continuity. He led the Australasian Tour School in 2004 but like most in his situation, his biggest task is to gain access to a recognised Tour in order build momentum in his game.
Beck’s biggest win to date has been his victory at the ABC Learning Centre’s Pro Am at Royal Pines and Hope Island in 2006 and today joined 66 other professionals in breaking par.
Also out early in the day was another New South Welshman, Jamie Arnold, whose round of 64 left him alone in second place and two shots behind Beck. Arnold has been a professional for only two weeks after playing representative golf for Australia in recent seasons. As a result of his success in amateur golf he was granted starts in this week’s event and at last week’s Mirvac-City Pacific Queensland Open. He missed the cut at Gainsborough Greens but is now well on the way to making his first cut as a professional. From Cronulla in Sydney’s south, Arnold’s father, Colin, is the resident professional at the Cronulla Golf Club.
At six under and in a five way tie for third are Queensland’s David Brockie, New South Wales’ trainee professional, Mitchell Tasker, New Zealander Brad Shilton, South Australian Nathan Kent and one of the last players to finish on day one, Queenslander Paul Donahoo. Donahoo again showed he may well be the man to beat this week having won the recent North Queensland X-Ray Services Classic and finished 10th at last week’s Queensland Open.
In a large group at five under is one of the tournament’s favourites, Andrew Bonhomme and leading amateurs Blake McGrory and Nick Russell. Peter Senior finished with an opening round of two under 69.
A hole in one was recorded when Queenslander, Gene Saunders, popped it in the hole at the par three third.
Play on day two will commence at 6.20am Eastern Standard Time and a reminder to those planning on attending the tournament on Saturday and Sunday that the final tee off times will be at 9.00 with the prize-giving ceremony expected to commence some time after 1.30pm.
Source – PGA Australia
