Lombard dominates in Benowa as Snedeker implodes

BENOWA, Australia: Former Amateur Championship runner-up Zander Lombard dominated the opening day of the Australian PGA Championship to establish a two shot lead over England’s Mark Foster.

Lombard, beaten by Scotland’s Bradley Neil in last year’s amateur showpiece at Royal Portrush, carded five unanswered birdies in his round of 67.

With the wind up on Queensland’s Gold Coast, only six players finished under par at RACV Royal Pines Resort.

Foster, 40, lost his European Tour card for the first time since 2002 last season, but made a promising start to his 401st event with seven birdies and four bogeys.

South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli held the clubhouse lead for much of the day after grinding out a two under par 70 in the morning session, and he was joined on that mark by Australia’s Ashley Hall.

Another of the home contingent, Todd Sinnott, had raced to six under through 12 holes, but found water at the 13th and that led to the first of three double bogeys over the closing stretch as he finished alongside compatriot Adam Stephens on one under par.

Two more former amateur stars – England’s Tom Lewis and Ireland’s Paul Dunne – went round in level par rounds of 72. They both shot to fame when they led The Open Championship as amateurs.

Dunne started on the back nine, and suffered an early blow with a double bogey at the 11th. Four birdies approaching the turn were then followed by two bogeys on the way in as he put himself inside the top 10 with a level par score.

Tournament favourite and headline act Brandt Snedeker endured a nightmare start, crashing to a 12-over-par 84. American Snedeker has won seven times on the elite US PGA Tour but looked more like a weekend hacker with a round which included a triple-bogey seven on the 13th. – Sunshine Tour.com