Australian Scott Ford has lit up Hanmer Springs in a rain-affected opening round of the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools NZPGA Seniors Championship.
Ford’s fine play in the New Zealand swing of Australasian PGA Legends Tour continues, taking the early lead with a four-under-64 at Hanmer Springs Golf Club, with half the field yet to complete their opening rounds. Play was abandoned late in the day following rain and hail which rendered the course unplayable.
Ford is in an obvious rich vein of form. He currently sits third on the PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit (OOM) following a win at the Green by Nature Legends Pro-Am at Pakuranga Golf Club in Auckland just over a week ago, a runner-up finish at the Ricoh Legends Pro-Am at Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club, and a tie for third at the Expol Waihi Legends Pro-Am.
He made a couple of birdies mixed with a couple of bogeys in his opening nine and made four birdies in a row from the 11th to shoot a solid 64 and start his tournament perfectly.
New Zealander Martin Pettigrew and American David Hill lead the chasing pack, recording opening rounds of two-under-66’s. However, pre-tournament favourites Richard Lee, Peter Fowler, Craig Mitchell, Brad Burns, and Guy Wall are all players who teed off this afternoon, and will look to post a score to put pressure on the leaders.
Those who didn’t complete their opening rounds will get back underway at 7am tomorrow, with the morning wave to tee off at 9.15am with a shotgun start. The afternoon wave of players will commence at 2pm, with a champion to be crowned following play.
The Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools NZPGA Seniors Championship sees the best over-50s golfers from Australasia, with players from the US and England, compete against each other over 36-holes at the picturesque Hanmer Springs.
Tournament information & leaderboard