Aussies stake card claims
AUSTRALIA’S Steve Allan and Paul Gow are among the leaders after the first day’s play of the final qualifying stage for next year’s US PGA Tour.
Eight Australians are taking part in the six-day tournament at the PGA West Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament courses at La Quinta in California.
The top 30 finishers will earn a US PGA Tour card for 2007, while the next 50 golfers earn exemption on the Nationwide Tour.
In windy and dusty conditions, Allan shot four birdies and a bogey on the more sheltered Nicklaus Tournament course to be in a four-way tie, two shots behind outright leader, American Scott Gutschewski.
Sydney’s Paul Gow shot the equal best score of the day on the Stadium course with a two-under par 70, placing him in a five-way tie for eighth.
Newcastle’s Steven Bowditch is tied for 13th after a steady round of 71.
Further down the leaderboard is Matthew Jones, who shot four bogeys in a round of 73 to put him in a tie for 44th, while 1993 Australian Masters champion Brad Hughes is in a tie for 100th on four-over par after a mixed day that included an eagle and a triple bogey.
Both Jason Day and Richard Swift are tied for 114th after five-over par rounds of 77.
Nick Flanagan had a day to forget, with two double bogeys and a triple bogey in his nine-over-par 81, leaving him tied for 156th.
Players contest three rounds on each course over the six-day tournament, which ends on Tuesday (AEDT).
AAP