Kennedy lights up in PGA opener

Former champion shines on gloomy opening day of Queensland PGA Championship.

Brad Kennedy on his way to nine-under-par in round one of the Queensland PGA Championship at City Golf Club today. Picture: Bob Englebright - PGA

GOLF : Former champion Brad Kennedy has thrown down the gauntlet to his Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship rivals after setting a sizzling pace on a gloomy opening day at City Golf Club today.

Kennedy finished the rain-interrupted day atop of the clubhouse leaderboard at nine-under on the par 70 layout.

His round of 61 included nine birdies and nine pars.

The 2013 champion had finished his morning round before play was suspended at 12.30 for more than two hours after a downpour left parts of the course – including greens – covered in surface water.

Warwick club professional and former City trainee Sam Eaves also made the most of his early round to post a score of four-under 66 to grab a share of equal second place with half the field still to complete their first rounds.

Sitting alongside Eaves in the clubhouse at -4 were Stephen Allan and young New Zealander Denzel Ieremia.

Kennedy said accurate driving and quality greens aided his first-day blitz.

“I hit off the 10th, which I suppose was an ideal start – a par five up the hill and I made a nice two-putt birdie,” Kennedy said.

“I drove it really well today which is the key around Toowoomba City.

“You’ve got to hit the fairways then you’ve got a lot of opportunities from there to try and hit the greens.

“I managed to hole a couple of nice putts.

“I’m quite happy to be finished here now at nine under and consolidate what I did today and get ready for tomorrow.

“We got preferred lies which definitely helps.

“Unfortunately it’s been really dry up here and then we had a lot of rain.

“The rough is as thick as I’ve ever seen it due to the rain, which is great.

“It’s such a tight golf course.

“It gives you enough. You can play your way around the course.

“If you hit enough fairways you are always going to have wedges in your hand.

“There was a couple of tricky par threes as well today so if you can just continually give yourself some chances the greens are rolling beautifully.

“A little slow, but in terms of the surface they’re fantastic.”

Defending champion Daniel Nisbet was among the late finishers and was at +2 after 12 holes.

The delay to play of more than two hours pushed the tournament back to a late finish as players and officials look to complete as many opening rounds as possible before dark set in.

Play continues tomorrow.

Spectator entry is free with clubhouse facilities available to the public.

QUEENSLAND PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

CITY GOLF CLUB

Par 70

Round one.

Play still in progress at time of publishing.

Completed scores unless indicated.

-9: Brad Kennedy

-4: Sam Eaves, Stephen Allan, Denzel Ieremia, Jamie Hook (after 15), Blake Proverbs (after 12)

-3: Charlie Dann, Chang Gi Lee, Damien Jordan, Kade McBride, Time Hart, Kristopher Muecki, Marcus Fraser (after 12), Dimitrios Papadatos (after 12), Aaron Townsend (after 9), Derek Ackerman (after 6)

-2: Campbell Rawson, Nicholas Russell, Aaron Wilkin (after 15), Adam Burdett (after 12), Nathan Green (after 12), Michael Sim (after 12), Jake Higginbottom (after 12), Martin Dive (after 6), Anthony Choat (after 6)

-1: Douglas Klein, Nick Cullen, Brett Rankin, Michael Hendry, Jarryd Felton, Christopher Wood, Kyle Michel (after 15), Callan O’Reilly (after 12), Matthew Millar (after 12), Josh Younger (after 12), David Bransdon (after 12), Steve Jeffress (after 12), Robert Hogan (after 9), Simon Tooman (after 9), Shae Wools-Cobb (after 6), James Grierson (after 6), Ben Ikin (after 6), Anthony Quayle (after 6), Terry Price (after 6), Bradley Doherty (after 6), Jonathan Pepper (after 6), Matthew Buff (after 6), Patrick Joseph (after 6), Hayden Webb (after six), Christopher Crooks.

# Remainder at par and above including Andrew Dodt (par, finished), Ian Esson (par, finished), Jake McLeod (+1 finished), Anthony Timms (a) (+1 after 15), Peter Lonard (+2 finished), Lawry Flynn (am) +2 finished), Daniel Nisbet (+2 after 12), Wade Edwards (am) (+6 finished), Chris Britnell (+5 after 15), Quinn Croker (am) (+3 after 15).