MICHAEL HARWOOD is continuing his dream debut seniors year and is joint leader of the Fiducian Australian PGA Seniors Championship at Byron Bay Golf Club after the first round.

Harwood and New Zealander Garth Domigan were sitting at two under par after rounds of 70 on an opening day when strong, hot winds firmed the greens and tested a field containing the cream of Australian senior golf.

Harwood and Domigan were the only players to record under-par rounds on the challenging and picturesque northern NSW coastal course.

Harwood is striving to quinella the Australian Senior “majors”, having already won the Handa Australian Senior Open at Royal Perth in October.

Harwood has had a stellar year since turning 50, claiming the European Seniors Tour Rookie of the Year honours after finishing 9th on the Money List.

He won the season ending OKI Castellon Senior Tour Championship in Spain by 3 strokes, his first professional tournament win in 18 years.

In his rookie year on the Australian Legends Tour, Harwood has amassed over $75,000 in prize money, nearly double that of his nearest competitor.

Domigan is hoping to build on his performance last year in the PGA Seniors Championship when he was tied for the lead heading into the final round.

His disappointing final round of 83 saw him drift into eighth position.

Peter Senior is sitting in third position two shots behind the leaders after blowing a promising start.

He jumped out of the blocks early starting his round with two consecutive birdies but could not capitalise, giving the two shots back with bogeys at 3 and 7.

2007 Australian PGA Senior Champion David Merriman made a solid start to the tournament with a one over par 73 while defending champion Noel Ratcliffe struggled with a 77.

Round two of the 54 hole event continues on Saturday with tee times from 6:30am.

Round One Leaderboard

Related posts:

1. Merriman takes 2010 NSW PGA Seniors Championship
2. Harwood 2 for 2 in Tassie
3. Harwood wins 2012 NSW Legends Championship
4. Harwood nabs third Tasmanian Senior Open
5. Australian PGA Seniors Championship has a new sponsor
6. Harwood shoots a course record to steal the Kiwi’s newest event
7. Harwood takes the candy in classic finish
8. Harwood ends the year with a win
9. Harwood is Rookie of the Year at 50
10. Kiwi Craig Owen leading Victorian Seniors Open