A one-under 70 has propelled Shoalhaven Heads local Ian Asbury into a tie for first place late in the opening round of the NSW Senior Amateur Championship.
Asbury got off to a slow start with bogies on the 4th and 5th, but used his local knowledge to full-effect, storming home with a blemish-free back nine of two-under 34.
Hawks Nest Warren Gorton, who played two groups behind Asbury, co-leads the tournament, while Gary Wells, who played earlier this morning at Nowra is in third.
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Men’s Leaderboard
Women’s Leaderboard
Par has proved an elusive challenge at both venues today with only three players, Asbury, Gorton, and Monash Country Club’s Jacqui Morgan able to finish day one with red numbers next to their names.
Despite the relative difficulty in scoring, the men’s leaderboard is packed with 22 golfers still within four shots of the lead.
Notable names still in the mix include Kingston Heath’s Gordon Claney, at two over. Defending Champion David Bagust is at plus three, alongside 2019 Champion, Victorian John Owen.
Earlier this morning, a brisk south-easterly made conditions interesting at both Shoalhaven Heads and Nowra Golf Clubs.
12.45pm: Tough Challenge facing early starters
Par proved elusive at Nowra this morning, with several fancied names struggling on the short, tree-lined layout.
The best of the morning players at Nowra was Liverpool’s Gary Wells, who carded an even-par 68. His clubmate Andrew Murgatroyd was the next best, carding a one over 69.
Victorian Gordon Claney and Kogarah’s Michael Musgrave carded two-over par rounds of 70 to be the best of the chasers. The pair both left ruing more than a few missed chances.
In the Women’s Championship at Shoalhaven Heads, Monash Country Club’s Jacqui Morgan leads the way after carding an impressive two-under-par round.
Her four-birdie-two-bogey effort has her sitting two shots ahead of Ryde-Parramatta’s Jane Wall.
Victorian Helen Pascoe is in third place at five over, one shot in front of defending champion Louise Mullard, Sue Wooster of the National, and Roby Callaghan of Oxley.
The players swap courses for tomorrow’s second round with the final round cut to take place at the end of play tomorrow.
7.40am: Senior Amateur Underway
The NSW Senior Amateur Championships are underway at Shoalhaven Heads and Nowra Golf Clubs on the NSW South Coast.
Over 260 golfers have descended on the region to contest the Men’s and Women’s Championships with competitors coming from across Australia.
Defending Champions David Bagust of Port Macquarie and Louise Mullard from Wyong face some stiff competition with several former champions also competing.