Amateur Todd Sinnott has made headlines on day one of the BetEasy Masters at The Metropolitan Golf Club, firing a five-under 67 to be tied for the lead alongside Steven Bowditch (-5), Michael Wright (-5) and Stephen Allan (-5).
Playing his home course, Sinnott recorded six birdies and just one bogey playing in a group alongside fellow Victorians Robert Allenby (-2) and Jarrod Lyle (Even). The long hitting Sinnott has certainly grabbed his fellow competitors’ attention, making birdies on three of the four par 5’s.
Tom Power-Horan, another Victorian amateur could have easily been in the clubhouse under the card but a double-bogey blemish on the 18th cost the young Victorian, recording an even par 72. Power-Horan played solidly on the front nine with a single birdie on the 6th and no bogeys. On the back nine, birdies came at 10 and 15 with his only bogey on 13 and the double on 18.
Playing alongside world no.2 Adam Scott (+1) and Geoff Ogilvy (-3) in the marquee morning group, Ryan Ruffels battled blustery conditions for an opening round three-over 75. Starting on the 10th tee, Ruffels had bogeys at 12 and 14 before a birdie at 17 which he handed right back on 18. On the front side, a birdie got the Victorian back to one-over but two bogeys in the final three holes tallied to a three-over finish.
The hype leading into today’s opening round being put in the marquee group is something the 16 year old understands he will need to get used to.
“I’ve never been able to play with such big crowds like that before, so many cameramen going around. It’s pretty cool. Geoff [Ogilvy] and Adam [Scott] would get that all the time but that’s kind of a first for me. I think I handled it pretty well,” said Ruffels.
Meanwhile, it wasn’t the start Lucas Herbert was looking for at his Masters debut with a double-bogey on the 1st and bogey on the 2nd but the Commonwealth GC pennant player made a great birdie at the 5th to make the turn two-over. On the back nine, Herbert would drop a single shot at the 13th for a three-over round of 75.
Rounding out the amateur contingency was South Australian Antonio Murdaca with a two-over 74. Murducca will start in the 2015 US Masters after winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne last month.
Other notables in the field:
Adam Scott (+1)
Geoff Ogilvy (-3)
Stuart Appleby (+3)
Robert Allenby (-2)
Jarrod Lyle (Even)
Kyle Stanley (-3)
Click here for round 2 draw