Four players are tied for the lead at three under par after round one of the NSW Senior Open at Thurgoona Country Club Resort.
Narrandera’s Craig Warren and Peter Senior joined the morning pair of Glenn Joyner, and Grant Kenny with a share of the clubhouse lead on a day when conditions were perfect for scoring.
Warren was happy with his score after the round. “I started off a bit shaky, I holed a few good four, and five footers early on that kept the momentum up.”
“I had a few awkward holes, but I managed to get away with it.”
Warren said the Thurgoona layout was one that demanded respect with plenty of tight holes.
“The par three are strong. you’re not hitting eight or nine irons into these you’re hitting five and six irons.”
“When you play the pro-am you stand there, free-wheel a bit but then you get into the tournament, and it gets narrow,” he said.
“The golf course is in beautiful condition; I’m very impressed.”
Warren believes his key for the rest of the tournament is that old cliche, one shot at a time.
“I tend to go a bit walkabout and don’t concentrate. If I can keep my mind on the job, hit the next shot, I should be alright, let's see how I go,” he smiled.
Peter Senior was pleased after his round despite some back troubles.
“I’m happy with the score; my body is a bit sore. I've got a bit of a back problem, so I scrambled my way around today.”
“I putted well which kept me in it.”
“You’ve got to be coming from the fairway," he said.
"The front nine greens were pretty soft; on the back nine, they were pretty hard. It took a bit of time to get used to them. We’ll know for tomorrow now."
"You can’t fault this course or the way it's prepared. It’s just a great golf course and a great tournament,” Senior said.
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Earlier, Sydney Professional Grant Kenny surprised himself more than anyone else out on the course after grabbing an early first-round lead with his three-under-par 69. Playing in the very first group out and from the tenth tee, the 51-year-old carded four birdies and one bogey in a solid return to form.
“I’ll take it, the way I’ve been playing,” Kenny smiled.’ My games have been awful of late.”
Victorian Glenn Joyner was thankful to be in the lead especially after injuring his back during his warm-up.
“It was a bit scrappy, but I putted great,” he said.
“”I hurt my back on the range this morning, so it was a bit dodgy. I had to send my mum to get the Voltaren gel from the chemist.”
“I’m going to the chiropractor this afternoon, get it straightened up,” Joyner smiled.