10.40am: Smith Powers to Rd1 Lead

Queensland’s Cam Smith has powered to the lead of the Ford NSW Open after a blistering front nine here at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club.

Having started on the 10th, Smith, the 2022 Champion Golfer of the Year, has made short work of the two par fives on 12 and 16 with further birdies on the par-four 13th and the challenging Ford Hole-in One sponsored par-3 15th. Smith is now at minus five after adding another birdie on the first to begin his back nine.

Fellow LIV golfer Lucas Herbert carded three birdies on his front nine as well, playing alongside Smith and NSW Amateur Declan O’Donovan, but also bogeyed the par-4 13th to be at two over in a solid start to his campaign.

The crowds here on opening day are a reminder of the halcyon days of the NSW Open when the likes of Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus and the who’s who of Australian and international golf were regulars in the Kel Nagle Cup. 

Victorian Ben Eccles leads the scoring through so far this morning, with a bogey-free round which includes four birdies to be at -4. 

Course conditions are good, the fairways firm with a moderate southerly keeping the temperatures at bay and presenting some challenging approaches into most greens.

9.00am: 2015 Champ Eccles out early and making a move

2015 NSW Open Champion Ben Eccles is an early mover on opening day, getting to two under par through seven holes here at Murray Downs.

The Victorian, playing alongside 2022 champ Harrison Crowe and 2018 Jake McLeod, birdied his very first hole of the day, the 10th, before rolling in five straight par. He’s just got to minus two with a second birdie at the reachable par-five 16th to get to the top of the leaderbaord.

It’s not all clear air at the top, however, with Ripper GC captain Cameron Smith ( playing in the group behind) also at minus two. Rounding out the current top three eaderboard is Queenslander James Gibellini.

7.00am: Play Underway

Good morning and welcome to Murray Downs, home of this year’s Ford NSW Open, where Australia’s top professional golfers are in town to compete for the Kel Nagle Cup.

Stay engaged with updates throughout the day here at the magnificent Murray Downs Golf and Country Club just across the border from Victoria in the far western corner of NSW.

Just a little bit about Murray Downs Golf and Country Club: it’s a very challenging par 72 with trees that seem quite a bit taller than last time we visited. It is ranked in Australia’s top 100 golf courses and is the number 1 ranked golf course along the mighty Murray River.

Cam Smith, the British Open champion from 2022 is here along with LIV team-mate Lucas Herbert and they will be teeing off in this morning’s early groups.

With Smith’s appearance at the Ford NSW Open, crowds are expected to be the best of the past 10 years with Swan Hill (just back across the border) already buzzing with thousands of visitors keen to catch a glimpse of the brilliant Queenslander Smith.

The weather today started off typically spring-like, quite chilly and with some dew on the ground, but it will lift throughout the morning and the course will get faster as the sun does its magic.

Stay tuned here at Golf NSW as we bring you the best of Australian golf with live updates, social media and other content throughout what should be an exciting morning of golf.