Top seed Greg Rhodes and three-time champion Stefan Albinski flexed their muscles on day one of the Australian Men's Senior Match Play Championship today.
In tough conditions on first-time host Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club's River Course, both men lived up to their seedings by comfortably winning both opening matches of round robin pool play.
But it wasn't all smooth sailing for the other top-ranked golfers, with fourth seed Ian Frost and second seed Kym Olsen each dropping one of their two matches, leaving the pressure on for tomorrow's final pool clashes.
Victorian Rhodes, seeded No.1, won convincingly 7&5 against 32nd Paranjit Singh (Qld) in the morning, then backed up in the afternoon to take down 17th seed Colin Hallam (Qld) 6&4.
Albinski (NSW), a tough opponent to face given his 14th seeding, won his round one match 5&4 against 19th seed Terry Small (NSW) and 6&5 in round two against John Wilson (Vic) to set up a classic match tomorrow with third seed Gordon Claney (Vic), who also won his two matches.
Olsen (NSW) playing the championship for the first time and but the reigning Men’s Senior Stroke Play champion, had an early loss to 31st seed Chris Gordon (NSW) 4&2, but bounced back in the afternoon to win 1up against 18th seed Mike Peeck (Qld).
Frost drew a tough match against 2015 champion Ian McPherson (WA), ranked No.29, and paid the price with a 3&2 loss, but bounced back with an afternoon 5&4 win over Darryl Hearsch (NSW).
McPherson halved his second match against Peter Hannah (Qld), ranked 13th.
The third and final round robin matches will be played on Tuesday morning, followed by the eight pool winners progressing to the knockout quarter-finals in the afternoon.
The semis will be played over 18 holes on Wednesday morning with the final played on Thursday morning.
See http://www.golf.org.au/eventdisplay/australian-senior-mens-match-play/10437 for full results.