Australian Matt Jones continued his impressive season on the PGA Tour on Friday morning, carding an opening round five-under 66 at the John Deere Classic. The New South Welshman is tied for sixth, two shots from the lead, after carding six birdies and a bogey at TPC Deere Run. Jones has six top-25 finishes to his name this season, highlighted by tying for second spot at last week&aposs Greenbrier Classic. Leading the way overnight is American Zach Johnson and Colombian Camilo Villegas on seven under. A quartet of Australians opened their week with rounds of two-under 69, with each of Nick O&aposHern, Rod Pampling, Steven Bowditch and Greg Chalmers eyeing off making the cut. Bowditch was arguably the best of the four, after carding a bogey-free round to preserve his two front-nine birdies. Pampling recovered from going three over after just three holes, shooting five birdies in the space of nine holes to salvage his round. O&aposHern could have improved his standing at tied for 41st spot, had he not bogeyed his second-last hole of the day – the par-four eighth – but had four birdies to thank for keeping him in weekend contention. Chalmers got off to a flyer, carding three birdies in his first four holes and went as low as five under with six to play but blew his healthy score with three bogeys late on. Stuart Appleby and John Senden are tied for 64th on one-under 70, while Aaron Baddeley is even-par 71. Robert Allenby and Cameron Percy are one over, Alistair Presnell is two over, Nathan Green is three over while Scott Gardiner is all but cut after a five-over 76.
Author: Omnisport