Home-club favourites Josh Greer and Connor McKinney finished day one of the Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open at the top of the standings – while rising star Harrison Crowe recorded a hole-in-one on his pro debut.
Joondalup Resort & Country Club members Greer and McKinney made the most of benign morning conditions and home advantage to set a searing pace for the rest of the field to chase.
McKinney, aged 21, scorched round his opening nine in just 30 blows – six under par around Joondalup’s Quarry course – with his only dropped shot of the day coming on Lake 1, his 10th. Two more birdies followed for McKinney, who parred his final hole of the day to post a seven-under-par 65.
After trailing McKinney by four strokes at the turn, playing partner Greer turned on the style on his back nine, matching his long-time clubmate and friend’s front nine effort and coming home in 30 strokes.
Buoyed by an eagle three at his last hole – the Lake course’s 9th – Greer finished the day in sole possession of the championship lead on eight-under-par, with both players expressing satisfaction with their day’s work in their post-round interview.
The WA duo are being chased hard by QLD pair Jack Munro and Lawry Flynn, who share third palace at -6, while Rockingham GC’s Joshua Herrero is T5th with Tyler Wood (NZ), Aaron Pike (QLD) and Simon Hawke (TAS) a shot further back.
The next best of the WA contingent are Jarryd Felton and Brody Martin in T9th on four under, while it was also a good day for WA amateurs Ollie Marsh (Wanneroo GC) and Joe Owen (Lake Karrinyup CC), who carded rounds of 69 to sit at -3.
You can view the full leaderboard here.
Crowe provides early fireworks
Harrison Crowe recorded the first competitive hole-in-one of what looks sure to be an illustrious career
Making his first start since turning professional in September, it was a round to remember for New South Welshman Harrison Crowe.
The 21-year-old is one of a large group of players at 3-under but was the only one to snare a hole-in-one, which came courtesy of a sweet 7-iron at the 169-metre par-three 17th (his ninth of the day).
It was Crowe’s first competitive hole-in-one, and he joins no less a luminary than Tiger Woods (1996 Greater Milwaukee Open) in recording a hole-in-one in his first tournament as a professional.
“I saw it the whole way,” Crowe said. “I had to hit a little trap draw and chase it up to the pin and it did exactly that. It landed probably 12 feet short, skipped up and when it went in I just started laughing.”
You can view Crowe’s post-round Q&A below.
You can view the leaderboard from day 1 here. Round 2 tees off at Joondalup Resort & Country Club’s Quarry and Lake courses at 7am on Thursday morning. You can view the draw here. Entry is free for spectators.
