Wednesday 1st October
17 nations have all arrived in Tsukuba, Japan to contest the 1st World Disabled Golf Championship at the One Way Golf Club. The 54 Hole stroke play, multi disability tournament is the first step in a collaborative approach between nations to have a World Championship every two years, one of the International Olympic Committees requirements to consider golf entry into the Paralympic Games in the future.
Seijyo Sato, President of the Japan Disabled Golf Association (JDGA) said "This tournament is the first tournament to have all nations contribute to the staging of the event and has opened dialogue with various disabled golf organisations around the world. An important step forward for disabled golf."
Australia’s team consists of Geoff Nicholas (NSW), Shane Luke (NSW), Graham Kenyon (NSW), Mike Rolls (VIC) and James Gribble (Team Captain,NSW).
Day One
After benign conditions for the ProAm and scheduled practice day yesterday, the heat and humidity has been replaced by windy and cooler conditions for day one of the tournament. The Pete Dye layout has been a challenge for players, the large pine trees which define most of the holes provide some protection from the wind but squally conditions face the morning field which has protected par for the day.
Our guys after a moderate start, managed to settle in to their rounds early with the challenge for all players to keep the double bogies off the scorecard. Scoring for all players has been tough due to the squally conditions.
The team has had a good preparation with an emphasis going into maintaining diet and hydration in what it a gruelling test of stamina for most players competing. Preparation for the physical test is every bit as important as the technical preparation, with players needing to take time regularly of their prosthesis and I some cases pain management playing a major role for the week.
Shane Luke (NSW) is one shot back after the 1st round with a 76 (+4) which included a double bogey on the par 3 3rd. Shane started a little off the pace early but settled in to his round to play some steady golf, playing the last 15 holes in only 2 over par, a great effort given the conditions.
T1 NIELSEN, Mads Lykke (DEN) 75
T1 KAMMERSTAD, Johan (SWE) 75
T3 LUKE, Shane (AUS) 76
T3 MORKHOLT, Stefan (DEN) 76
5 POSTIGO, Juan (ESP) 77
6 KOBAYASHI, Shigeru (JPN) 78
T11 NICHOLAS, Geoff (AUS) 81
T27 KENYON, Graham (AUS) 87
T32 ROLLS, Mike (AUS) 89
Wheelchair DIV
3 GRIBBLE, James (AUS) 57
(Play suspended due to poor light)