Florimo fires in WA Amateur opening round

14th Mar 2018

Queensland’s Will Florimo has well and truly put his name on the map after an opening round eight-under-par 62 at the Amateur Championships of Western Australia at the Western Australian Golf Club on Wednesday morning.

The 18-year old was a class above during round one, with five birdies on the front nine, and four on the back catapulting the youngster into the lead.

Florimo’s only blemish was a bogey on the fourth, however the Half Moon Bay member had a birdie putt on the final hole to equal the course record of 61 at the WAGC.

The leader narrowly missed and settled for eight-under, with a four shot lead going into the second day of stroke play.

Haydn Barron during Round 1

Claudia Pisano opened her WA Amateur account in style with a three-under-par 70 to lead the field in the women’s draw.

Pisano, 19, took on her home course with plenty of confidence, nailing three birdies in three holes between the 17th, 18th, and 1st, to take the outright lead by one shot.

Kathryn Norris sits second after her 71; with playing partner Kirsten Rudgeley trailing in third position by a stroke.

Abbie Teasdale rounds out an all-Western Australian top four, sitting three strokes back from the leader Pisano.

WA Golf Club local Haydn Barron entered the competition as the favourite and he did not disappoint, with a four-under-par 66 to share second place with Jose De Souza (Gosnells).

Barron began with an eventful first four holes carding two birdies and two bogeys, before settling on his back nine. The 22-year old is still within touching distance of medal honours after 18 holes.

Kathryn Norris during Round 1

Victorian pair Shane Feldman and Lukas Michel are placed in fourth and fifth respectively after positive starts to their WA Amateur campaigns.

Western Australian’s Ben Ferguson, Connor McKinney and Fred Lee all hold top-10 positions, with Lee making a brilliant eagle on the 18th to finish with a one-under 69.

Matthew Cheung is the best-placed overseas player in 15th position with an opening round 70.

Isabella Leung is also flying the flag for Hong Kong and sitting well-placed in sixth, six shots behind the leader in the women’s draw.