Date: February 26, 2009
Author: Sportal

O’Malley, Bonhomme share lead

Australians Peter O&aposMalley and Andrew Bonhomme are among five players who share the lead after the opening round of the co-sanctioned Moonah Classic on Victoria&aposs Mornington Peninsula. O&aposMalley and Bonhomme made the most of the calm early morning conditions to post 68s and are joined by Americans Hunter Haas and Daniel Summerhays as well as Argentine Miguel Angel Carballo. O&aposMalley had a solid round that included five birdies and only one bogey, while Bonhomme recovered from a loss in concentration in the middle of his round when he dropped shots on the eighth and 10th holes, to pick up three birdies on the back nine. Haas and Carballo also had five birdies and a bogey while Summerhays&apos up-and-down round featured seven birdies, including four in a row on the front nine, as well as three bogeys. Summerhays was the best of the afternoon players and is drawn to get the best of the conditions on Friday morning. Moonah offered relatively calm conditions but things are expected to toughen up on Friday with fierce north winds and temperatures in the high 30s. Five players share equal sixth one shot off the pace, including Aussie Michael Sim, who countered his two bogeys with five birdies. Americans Bubba Dickerson, Kyle Reifers and Josh Teater also shot 69s along with South Africa&aposs Garth Mulroy. There are another 11 players on two-under and 17 on one-under, making for 39 players within three shots of the lead. Queenslander Bronson LaCassie had got it to five-under very late in the day but fell apart down the back nine with five bogeys. Defending champion Ewan Porter is well off the pace at two-over, alongside veteran Peter Fowler and Johnnie Walker Classic winner Danny Lee.