Host Pro Leads Shirley Open

PGA Professional Anthony Doyle

Home club professional Anthony Doyle showed the advantage of local knowledge to claim the lead after the first round of the $40,000 Shirley Open in Christchurch today.

Starting off the 10th hole, Doyle fired six birdies and an eagle in his five-under par 67 in the year's final Charles Tour event.

Doyle has a two shot advantage over tour professionals Troy Ropiha (Wairakei) and Jared Pender (Tauranga) who both fired three-under 69's, with a further shot back to 2003 New Zealand Open champion Mahal Pearce.

Only five players managed to beat par in testing conditions at Christchurch Golf Club, which offered plenty of resistance with its considerable length and penal rough. It was therefore interesting that three of the best scores came in the morning when players faced wet and windy conditions.

Nelson professional Riki Borell, fresh off his first pro victory at Harewood on Wednesday, is in fifth place on one-under 71, a shot ahead off five players including professionals Mathew Holten (Christchurch) and Brenden Stuart, national under-19 champion Duncan Croudis (Dunedin), 14-year-old Ryan Chisnall (Greenacres, Nelson) and Vaughan McCall (Gore).

Auckland’s Gary-John Hill (Titirangi), the leading amateur on the Charles Tour Order of Merit, shares 11th place on one-over 73 with Taranaki professional Grant Moorhead and Akarana amateur Timmy Tu.

There was considerable interest in the performance of 73-year-old Sir Bob Charles, who fired a two-over 74, playing in the tour event named after him for the first time.

It proved a top day for Doyle, one of New Zealand’s best club professionals, having won the trainee championship and club professional honours. “It was gruelling but I just kept my head down and kept to my strategic plan around the golf course. Being my home course I know a few short cuts. I know how to grind it out on the front nine which I played last today but was four-under,” Doyle said.“It was testing but the trueness of the round came down to the putting green. Naturally as a club pro I don’t get to play that much but I’ve put a good six weeks into my preparation. The Shirley Open is my big tournament of the year. It’s exciting to play and also to showcase the Christchurch Golf Club in this elite status.”

Ropiha, third in the Taranaki Open and 10th at the Wairakei Open, continued his fine form with four birdies and a solitary dropped shot. He impressed his playing partner, the legendary Charles.

“I was very impressed with Troy. He hits the ball tremendously well and played great,” Sir Bob said. “That was a very enjoyable day on a very good golf course.”

Pender, who turned professional nine months ago, made his charge in the afternoon with four birdies and one blemish in his round.

There was a welcome return to form for Pearce (Dunedin), who is coming back from injury and illness with his 70 including four birdies. “That was a pretty good score although I can’t say I hit too many really good shots, “ Pearce said. “ I putted well out there and made a good finish with a birdie and two pars with those holes straight into the teeth of that wind. I just needed a bit of golf to sort things out a bit. Any time you shoot under par around here it’s pretty good. This is probably my favourite golf course in the country along with Paraparaumu. I’m a traditionalist and I always enjoy coming here. I have always liked it. It’s a tough golf course where you have to strike the ball and putt well. I managed to do a bit of both today.”

There is a cut after tomorrow’s second round for the leading 60 men and ties, while the women contest a 54 hole event finishing on Sunday.

Leading scores : (P denotes professional):

Men
67  Anthony Doyle (P  Christchurch)
69  Jared Pender (P  Tauranga), Troy Ropiha (P  Wairakei)
70  Mahal Pearce (P  Dunedin)
71  Riki Borell (P  Nelson)
72 Simon Brownlee (Gulf Harbour), Andrew Searle (P  Cambridge) , Jon Bevitt (P  Auckland),  Mathew Holten (P  Christchurch), Brenden Stuart (P  Wellington), Duncan Croudis (Otago), Ryan Chisnall (Greenacres), Vaughan McCall (Gore)
73 Gary-John Hill (Titirangi), Grant Moorhead (P  New Plymouth), Timmy Tu (Akarana)
74  James Oh (P  Christchurch), Fraser Wilkin (Auckland), Tim Leonard (Timaru), Carl Brooking (P  Christchurch), Andrew Namkoong (Waitikiri), Richard Anderson (P  Christchurch), Sir Bob Charles (P  Christchurch)
75 Moonhak Lee (Coringa), Sean Riordan (Takaka), Jonti Philipson (P  Masterton), Andrew Henare (P  Hastings), Ben Campbell (Masterton), Doug Holloway (P  Hastings), Fraser Callaway (Royal Wellington), Pieter Zwart (Waipukurau), Riki Kauika (P  Wanganui), Sam An (Titirangi), Scott Hill (P  Auckland)
76 Jamie Mead (Rangiora), Mike Boshoff (P  Ashburton), Dominic Barson (P  Auckland) , Aaron Forsyth (Waimairi Beach), Alex Tait (P  Northland), Dean Sipson (P  North Harbour), Mathew Perry (Hamilton), Peter Smith (P  Wanaka)
Richard Wright (P  Hamilton), Tom Cardno (Waitemata), Andrew Stewart (Omokoroa), Haden McCallum (Akarana), Josh Munn (Manawatu), Ricky Barbara (P  Christchurch ), Thomas Lannie (P  North Harbour), Thomas Turner (Christchurch)
77 Jae Hak Lee (Coringa), Michael Worsfold (Hamilton), Andrew Green (P  Wellington), Jason Mann (Auckland), Jonathon Huntley (P  Cambridge), Andrew Gurney (P  Tauranga), Cameron Grant (Ashburton), Aaron Leech (Cambridge), rad Clark (Christchurch), Jason McIntosh (Taupo), Peter McDougall (Christchurch)
 
Women, par 74:
76 Caroline Bon (Northland)
77 Shani Arona (Arrowtown)
78 Emily Perry (Lochiel)
79 Lisa Wright (Nelson)
80 Robyn Cruse (Russley), Jessica Guenzerodt (Christchurch GC), Zoe Brake (Whakatane)
81 Rebekah Brownlee (Gulf Harbour)
83 May Chang (Waitikiri)
83 Sylvie Williams (Waimari Beach)