Former Australian Amateur runner-up and Queenslander Daniel Nisbet overcame an lost ball start to lead the final stage of PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School at Peninsula Country Golf Club after the first round in Melbourne. After a less than desirable start, 22 year old Daniel Nisbet came home firing, shooting an eagle and six birdies on his way to posting a 5-under 67 to share the lead with South Australian Brendan Chant. I got off to a pretty bad start today, I lost a ball on the first and walked off with a six and then lost another ball on four so it was a tough start, but I just thought I had to dig deep, said Nibet. After a start like that you just have to relax and make as many birdies as you can. My last 14 holes today were great, if you had asked me on the 4th green what I thought I would shoot it would be a completely different story to what I turned in. After a stellar amateur career, which included winning the 2012 US Players Amateur Championship, Nisbet is looking forward to his rookie Professional season. I am going to play the PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments and then in March I am going to head back to America and play some Web.com Tour, a couple of satellite tournaments and I have a start on the PGA TOUR, added Nibet. I am going to take advantage of all the starts I can get over there and try to get a rookie year going. Whilst Nisbet is at the beginning of his career, 40 year old Brendan Chant is hoping this week will revive his. The last two years I have been working at Coca-Cola in Adelaide, I had hurt my back travelling around playing too much so I took a break to rest it, said Chant. This year I plan to hopefully play as much on the PGA Tour of Australasia as I can, hopefully in some of the big events. Battling his nerves Chant has got off to a strong start in his career resurrection. I got off to a good start with a birdie on 11 and then I went on to be at 4-under through nine holes, but my second nine I got a bit nervy, added Chant. I realised my score and I guess I was thinking about it too much. But I wedged it good and putted it pretty good, I holed a few nice putts, it was a steady round. Sitting just behind Chant and Nisbet at 4-under 68 is former PGA TOUR winner Phil Tataurangi as well as Adam Bland, Leigh Deagan, Grant Thomas, Tom Bond (am) and Edward Stedman. While a further shot back again are Christopher Wood, David Lutterus, Matt Jager, Neil Sarkies, Matt Giles, Peter Shaw, Brent McCullough and Kevin Conlong.
Author: Golf Australia