A red hot putter and an ounce of luck late in his round have helped a Dynamic Dominic Falk to a one-shot lead after the opening round of the NSW Country Championship.
Falk, from Goulburn in the NSW Southern Tablelands, was almost flawless around the tight Forbes Golf Club layout, carding seven birdies with only one blemish on his card, a bogey on the par-four 17th.
“I struggled early but, kept getting up and down. Nine putts in the first nine holes, which was good,” Falk said post-round.
It’s often said you make your luck, and Falk admitted his moment came on the par-five sixth (his 12th hole of the day) when his tee shot looked for all money to be heading out of bounds.
“I kind of thought it was just in, but it might’ve taken a little kiss off the fence and popped back in,” he smiled. “I made birdie from the it in the end so I was pretty happy.”
The 28-year-old said the course kind of suited his eye, comparing it favourably to his home track, Goulburn.
“It’s very similar to home; tree-lined, you’ve got to hit it pretty straight here, and the greens feel pretty similar.
After taking the game up only six years ago, Falk is already a four-time Club Champion at Goulburn and readily admits he has eyes for a tilt at the pro ranks in the near future.
“I broke my hand playing Rugby about six years ago, and my dad said back then it was about time I took up a sport where I couldn’t injure myself, so golf it was.
“The bug has bitten me. I got to the second stage of Q-School earlier this year, but injured my shoulder, so, yeah, still keen to have a go.”
Chasing Falk in tomorrow’s final round will be a brace of quality players, including current NSW representatives, Charlestown’s Jye Pickin, a shot back at five-under and Royal Canberra’s Harry Bolten at four under par.
An impressive 15 players broke par in the testing conditions, with the warm northerly wind cruelling plenty of notable players’ chances.
In the District teams event, ACT/Monaro, at 12 under par combined, holds a five-shot lead over Newcastle (-7), while the Central West DGA is in third place at one under.
TEAM SCORES
ACT/Monaro -12
Newcastle: -7
Central West: -2
Hunter: +1
Illawarra: +2
Murray: +4
Lachlan Valley: +15
Lower North Coast: +21
Blue Mountains: +36
Western Riverina: +42