Australians Clint Rice and James Nitties have earned a share of the lead after the first round of the Perth International on Thursday. The pair are locked on four under alongside Swede Peter Hedblom and Korea&aposs Jin Jeong, who also carded rounds of 68 at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club. Rice produced a perfect display of golf, sinking four birdies in a bogey-free opening round, while Nitties made seven birdies and three bogeys. World number 21 Dustin Johnson made a solid start to proceedings in Perth, recording a three-under-par 69. The 29-year-old American, who entered the $2 million tournament slightly under the weather, finds himself just one shot off the lead. Australian&aposs Nick O&aposHern, Brady Watt, Nick Cullen and Dimitrios Papadatos, Englishman Sam Little and Swedish pair Bjorn Akesson and Fredrik Andersson Hed are also at three under heading into Friday&aposs second round. Defending champion Bo van Pelt of the United States is tied for 13th after shooting a round of 70. Van Pelt is joined by Aussie trio Rohan Blizard, Anthony Brown and Josh Younger, New Zealand&aposs Mark Brown, Dane JB Hansen and Englishman Robert Coles. Meanwhile, Australian Brett Rumford is three shots off the pace following a round of 71 that saw him go bogey-free. Countrymen Tom Bond, Christopher Campbell, Brett Rankin and David Bransdon are also one under overall, as well as Swedish duo Thomas Petersson and Joel Sjoholm, Denmark&aposs Soren Hansen and Norwegian Espen Kofstad. Further down the leaderboard, Marcus Fraser closed the day on even par, while fellow Australian and Matthew Griffin could only manage an opening-round 73.
Author: Omnisport