Three share lead in New Zealand
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - Canadian David Hearn and Americans Darron
Stiles and Matt Bettencourt moved out to a share of the lead after the
first day of the $650,000 HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship with matching
6-under 66s.
The 28-year-old Hearn turned in a bogey-free effort at the par-72
Clearwater Golf Club, while the 34-year-old Stiles kept pace with eight
birdies and a double bogey. Bettencourt, a 32-year-old native of Alameda,
CA, turned in a scorecard that consisted of six birdies, an eagle and a
double bogey.
Hearn picked up where he left off in New Zealand a year ago, where his tie
for 22nd place finish was set up by a tournament-record 7-under 29 on the
opening nine holes – highlighted by seven consecutive birdies on Nos. 2-8.
His best streak on Thursday included four straight birdies on Nos. 12-15.
“I did everything well today,” said Hearn, the winner of the 2004 Alberta
Classic. “I drove it well, hit my irons well and made some putts. I gave
myself some good looks and was able to convert most of them.”
Getting off to a good start was music to Hearn’s ears, after having missed
the cut in his first two Tour events in Panama and Mexico. The week off
before heading Down Under gave the Ontario, Canada native plenty of time to
correct the mistakes he noticed in his game the first two weeks of the
season.
“I typically get off to a slow start because I like to go back to Canada
for awhile in the off-season,” said Hearn. “But I didn’t expect to miss the
cut in both tournaments. I worked really hard on my short game during the
week off and it paid dividends for me today.”
Stiles, thanks to a red-hot putter, posted five of his eight birdies on the
opening eight holes. Highlighting his day were lengthy birdies at the par-4
first hole (20 feet), par-4 seventh hole (30 feet) and the par-5 14th hole
(35 feet).
“I got off to a nice start for a change,” said Stiles, a four-time winner
on the Nationwide Tour. “I got I hit the ball really well but the
difference today was I made some really nice putts. It is always nice to
see some long ones drop.”
Bettencourt added his name to the list of leaders thanks in large part to a
chip-in for eagle from 95 feet on the par-5 10th hole. He last played on
the Nationwide Tour in 2004 and 2005, but has been on the Mini Tours the
past couple of seasons and couldn’t be happier with his start to the
tournament – or the season for that matter. He made the cut in his first
two starts, finishing in a tie for 53rd place in Panama and a tie for 29th
place in Mexico.
“Obviously I’m very happy with the way I played today,” said Bettencourt,
who hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation. “I’m really excited about this year
and being back on the Nationwide Tour. I haven’t been this excited in a
long time.”
D.A. Points, Rick Price and Dave Schultz sit just one shot back at 5-under
67. The three-time Nationwide Tour winner Points failed to play a practice
round this week after a tie for 14th place finish at last week’s AT&T
Pebble Beach National Pro-Am led to a late arrival at the Clearwater
Resort.
“I didn’t have time to get in a practice round but this is the fifth time
I’ve played here so I know where to hit it,” said Points, who opened the
day with a 70-foot birdie putt on the par-5 10th hole.
First Round News & Notes: 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell opened
with a 2-under 70. Campbell is the 11th player to play in a Nationwide Tour
event after winning a Major Championship … 2008 Panama Movistar
Championship winner Scott Dunlap and 2008 Mexico Open champion Jarrod Lyle
both opened with a 1-under 71 … The three leaders are hoping for a better
result than previous 18-hole leaders in New Zealand. Since the tournament
began in 2002, the first-round leader has never gone on to win the
tournament … The HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship is the third event of
the 2008 season. Sunday’s winner will take home a winning payday of
$117,000.
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