Archer takes early lead at Masters
BY iseekgolf.com | Australasian PGA Tour | 2008 Australian Masters | Round One | 27 Nov 2008
England’s Phillip Archer has shot to an early lead at the Sportbet Australian Masters at Huntingdale midway through today’s morning round.
Archer was four-under through eight holes, having picked up five birdies and one bogey at the long par-three fifth hole.
Compatriot Dave Horsey is among a burgeoning pack settled behind the leader.
Horsey, who finished equal fifth in last year’s Masters alongside Peter Lonard and Rod Pampling at nine-under, birdied the back-to-back par fives at six and seven to move to two-under.
Swede Daniel Chopra, beaten for the Masters gold jacket in a sudden-death playoff by Aaron Baddeley in 2007, and veteran Peter Senior, the only player to have competed in all 30 Australian Masters since the tournament started in 1979, are among six others at two-under.
Starting from the 10th, tournament drawcard John Daly is one-over through seven holes while playing partner Craig Parry, a three-time Masters champion, is two-over.
There is a stiff, warm northerly in place to greet the early groups with the forecast for unsettled conditions later in the day.
Afternoon thunderstorms will be accompanied by a south-westerly change with a top temperature expected of 30 degrees.
Championship favourite Robert Allenby, who has boldly spoken of his determination to repeat his 2005 feat of victories in the Masters, Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open over three successive weeks, is scheduled to tee off at 12.10pm local time.
Source – PGA Tour