Beck standout on day one of NSW Open

BY Anthony Powter | Von Nida Tour | 2007 New South Wales Open | Round One | 08 Nov 2007

Darren Beck continues with his low scoring barrage in Von Nida Tour events this season, after an opening course record five-under 66, to have a two-stroke lead from Neven Basic and amateur Luke Shahmatove, at the NSW Open Championship.

Beck last week at the QLD PGA Championship was the standout performer, where he fired four consecutive rounds in the 60’s, including an opening 62, to eventually finish T2nd for the tournament.

Beck is confident his game is where he needs it to secure his first major victory this week at The Vintage in the Hunter Valley, since turning professional in 2004.

“I’m at a stage where I feel in control on shots that I’m hitting,” remarked Beck after his round.

“I’ve been working with my new coach, John Serhan at St Michaels Golf Club in Sydney and the changes we’ve been making are seeing me hitting more middle of the greens and sinking more putts.”

Neven Basic, who experienced his first year with exempt status on the Asian Tour in 2007, is also finding form at the right time. Basic is only US$5,000 short of keeping his playing privileges in Asia for 2008. He is finishing the season with a full sail, after solid results recently in Asian, including the Singapore Open where he finished 41st, in one of the strongest fields ever assembled on the Asian Tour.

“I’ve had good results lately up in Asia and it again showed out there today that my game’s improving. Both Becky and I have the same coach in John Serhan, so something is obviously working,” remarked Basic.

“I’ll be heading back to play the Vietnam Masters and the Cambodian Open, two new events on the Asian Tour, the objective to keep my card.”

One of the main draw cards for this week’s event, Nick Flanagan had a slow start, finishing two over, however, is comfortably inside the top professional fifty plus ties cut mark, which will be determined after tomorrow’s round.

Steven Myers, Paul Donahoo and Richard Ball are in T4, Ball’s round assisted by a hole-in-one on the 12th and for his efforts, he’ll receive a year’s supply of Blue Tongue beer.

Defending champion and new professional Rick Kulacz, who has returned from the US earlier than he would like, fired an opening round one over 72, and is positioned T28.

With the cut projected to be around plus four, a number of known players are comfortably within the cut including, Ewan Porter (T10), Matthew Ecob, rookie professional Richard Gallichan (T17) and Scott Draper (T28).

“The Vintage is a course that is hard to go low on and it will make it an interesting contest, as everyone appears to be playing well,” remarked Neven Basic this evening.

With the professionals who make the cut being placed with those amateurs, who forked out the dollars for the privilege, this NSW Open is certain to be interesting to say the least.

Whether it’s a success, time will only tell, but the players are not only looking forward to the challenge of this unusual format, but the opportunity to play a course that many describe as “simply pure”.