STEVE JONES and ANDRE STOLZ lead the 2013 Victorian Open Championship after the first round at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links.
Capitalising on favourable early conditions, the pair shot a 5-under 67 to lead after the morning field, with no one in the afternoon able to chase them down.
“The front nine was beautiful, the wind started getting up a little on 10 all the way through the back nine but I was lucky that I played good and shot 4-under on the front,” said Stolz.
“Obviously I looked at the forecast and its going to blow pretty good this afternoon so you sort of get a bit more fired up to take advantage of the morning tee time.”
Jones echoed Stolz sentiments.
“On courses like this – close to the ocean, it’s likely that it will be quite windy so you really have to make the most of it quite early when it’s a bit easier, so it was nice this morning,” said Jones.
New Zealand Professional Nick Gillespie is kicking himself after being on track to equal the course record with a 7-under 65 only to be disqualified for failing to sign his scorecard.
“It’s an unfortunate situation that no-one likes to see but at the end of the day all the players know it is their responsibility to sign the card and it’s a lesson he’ll learn and never repeat, I hope,” said
Andrew Langford-Jones, Director of Tournaments for the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Whilst understandable disappointed, Gillespie was looking forward to be able to correct his mistake next week at the NZ PGA Championship.
“I have been practicing my signature this afternoon in preparation for next week,” a frustrated Gillespie quipped.
Finishing a shot off the lead at 4-under the card were Josh Geary (NZ) and PGA of Australia Trainee Ben Ford (VIC).
A further shot back again were Richard Green (VIC), Matthew Giles (NSW), Anthony Brown (VIC) and Ben Wharton (VIC).