Date: February 15, 2007
Author: Marcus Wilson

Local leads the charge

By Marcus Wilson, Sportal South Australian David Lutterus has equalled the course record and secured the outright lead on day one of the Jacob&aposs Creek Open Championship at Kooyonga in Adelaide. Lutterus, who is a Kooyonga member, eagled his last hole – the 468-metre par-five ninth – to finish with a round of eight-under 64. He made a promising start with a minus-three front nine, and took a share of the lead with another three birdies before opening up his two-stroke buffer at the end of his round. The last player to shoot a 64 at the championship was Craig Parry in 1999. Parry went on to win the event that year. Fellow Australian Brett Rumford and Brad Ott of America were the early clubhouse leaders after carding 66s; their rounds including seven birdies and a bogey. Rumford had a strong short game with 27 putts and Ott&aposs four-under back-nine was a highlight. A stroke behind is Steven Jeffress, who threatened to join the leaders after collecting six birdies in his first 13 holes. But he stumbled with consecutive bogeys and a double-bogey two holes later. Only an amazing albatross on the ninth restored some order to his promising round. Jeffress, along with fellow afternoon tee-off competitors Andrew Pitt and Anthony Painter, are among a group of 10 players on five-under. Pitt netted three birdies and bogey in first nine holes and then picked up a further three shots over the remainder of his round. Painters&apos round also featured six birdies and bogey. Other Australians in the mix and on five-under are Peter Wilson, Greg Chalmers and Ben Bunny. Veteran Peter Senior enjoyed the morning session and at one stage had his nose in front, but his four-under score was quickly surpassed in the afternoon. He is among a small group of players who also carded 68s. Lutterus said he felt lucky to record the late eagle after just evading a bunker with his drive. “I was right between nine and eight-iron but I was pretty pumped up and my caddie Nick and I figured, &apossmash a nine&apos and it went to about 10 feet,” Lutterus said. “I thought I left it about a foot short and it just went in – so it was perfect.”