Cam Smith well in contention after first round of Queensland PGA Championship

Cam Smith lived up to his star billing at the Queensland PGA Championship but was trumped by one of his former scholarship holders.

Being upstaged by one of his former scholarship holders had Cam Smith feeling “proud” after his opening round of five-under at the Queensland PGA Championship on Thursday helped him set the pace.

It was a round of relief for the major champion who ticked a massive box in his hometown return after the disappointment of last year’s missed cut at the Australian PGA in Brisbane, with the weekend, and a trophy, well in sight, despite hitting his opening drive in to the water at Nudgee Golf Club.

The LIV star’s five-under effort, which included six birdies and a first-up bogey, left him a shot behind co-leaders Phoenix Campbell and amateur Billy Dowling at the Nudgee Golf Club.

Dowling, a previous recipient of the Cameron Smith Scholarship, said seeing his name above Smith on the leaderboard made him “feel pretty good”.

“It confirms why I was there (on his scholarship),” the 19-year-old Gold Coast golfer said.

Smith was delighted to see Dowling play some “really good golf”.

“He’s good kid – I love Billy,” the former world No.2 and 2022 British Open champion said.

“It does make me a little bit proud. You just hope that he’s taken a little bit and then he can figure out what he wants and go on his own way.”

Cameron Smith unleashes a drive during round one of the Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Smith had his two scholarship holders from this year, Wesley Hinton (three-over 75) and Kayun Mudadana (two-over 74), in his group on Thursday morning.

“I just let them do their own thing.” Smith said.

“First and foremost, I’ve got to worry about what I’m doing, but I might speak to them tonight about a couple of things that I saw.”

“They actually played not too bad. That wind was tricky, and they just seemed a little bit nervy, which is understandable.”

Smith, who teed off at 6.45am local time on the par-four, 352m 10th hole, was also nervous early, hitting his opening drive into the water which led to a bogey.

But having declared pre-tournament how desperate he was to erase the demons from last year’s emotional early exit at Royal Queensland, he eventually settled, making birdies at the 16th, 17th, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th holes to put himself in tournament contention.

“There’s just a couple of really awkward tee shots for myself out there, particularly on that back nine with that wind getting up,” Smith said.

“The rest, from 16 onwards, really felt comfortable with the driver, and I really just kind of let it go. It was all good stuff.”

Unforgettable 🤩

Amateurs Wesley Hinton and Kayun Mudadana have teed off alongside their idol Cam Smith! @NudgeeGolfClub1 | #QldPGApic.twitter.com/w09RPQzith

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) October 30, 2024

Queenslander Smith enjoyed having his family and friends among the hundreds of people following his group.

“Familiar faces are always nice to see. I had a few mates out there today, as well as Mum and Dad,” he said.

“Mum hasn’t probably watched me since his time last year so it’s been a while for her.”

Meanwhile, defending tournament champion Campbell was delighted with his first-round of 66.

“I was a little nervous but settled down quick, and got going, which is really good,” the 23-year-old Victorian said.

“I really like that nervous energy. I definitely play really well in front of crowds. I’m just going to keep using that into the weekend.”

Two players – Victorian pair Aiden Didone and Edward Donoghue – are two shots behind Campbell and Dowling at four-under, while five players, including Elvis Smylie and Ben Eccles, are a shot further back at three-under.

“It was an up and down day,” Queenslander Smylie said.

“Three-under, I’ll take it. I’ve gotten off to a good start.”

Victorian Eccles played in the tougher afternoon conditions, with wind causing havoc for several players.

“I hit my irons amazingly well and holed some good putts as well,” Eccles said.

The day also included a hole-in-one from Western Australia’s Brady Watt on the par-three third hole, which measured 138m in the first round.

It was an otherwise a tough day for Watt, who shot a three-over round of 75.

Queensland PGA Round 1 leaderboard

-6: Phoenix Campbell (VIC), Billy Dowling (a) (QLD)

-5: Cameron Smith (QLD)

-4: Aiden Didone (VIC), Edward Donoghue (VIC)

-3: Jack Harrison (VIC), Ashley Hall (VIC), Kyle Michel (VIC), Elvis Smylie (QLD), Ben Eccles (VIC)