Solid start
Kiradech, Prom three behind leader Rumford in World Super 6 Perth
PERTH: Defending champion Brett Rumford set the early pace on the opening day of the World Super 6 golf tournament yesterday.
The unique tri-sanctioned European Tour tournament, which sees the top 24 undertake match play on the final day to decide the winner, is in its second year, with local golfer Rumford having won the inaugural event in 2017.
Rumford, who has always had an affinity with the Lake Karrinyup course, shot an opening round 64 to hold a two-stroke lead over Britain’s Lee Westwood and Australian James Nitties.
Nine players shot matching 67s to share fourth place. They including Asian Tour members Nicholas Fung of Malaysia as well as Thais Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Prom Meesawat.
Another Thai hope Jazz Janewattananond was a stroke further back at joint 13th.
Rumford and Westwood played together on the opening day, with Englishman Andrew “Beef” Johnston completing the group which started on the back nine.
Johnston began the day with an eagle on the opening hole, but from there on was unable to match his two playing partners. He finished one over, dropping five strokes with an ugly nine on the parfour second.
While Johnston struggled, Rumford capitalised on placid conditions early in the day to charge through his first nine holes to be seven-under at the turn.
The same event revived Rumford’s career 12 months earlier, his win securing his future on the European tour, and his opening round has him ideally placed to again contend for the lion’s share of the US$1.75 million prize money on Sunday.
Rumford said he was always confident playing the Lake Karrinyup course.
“You find as a trend that a lot of players go back and play well when they’ve had a lot of good performances there [at a course], and this is one of them for me,” he said.
“I’ve played here a lot, so... definitely seems to be some kind of home course advantage.”
Former world No.1 Westwood went out in 32, helped by an eagle on the 15th, and was level with Rumford with two holes to play.
However, Rumford birdied the penultimate hole, while Westwood dropped a stroke.
The 44-year-old Westwood was content with a solid opening round.
“I played very nicely, very solidly,” he said. “I hit a lot of good shots, drove the ball well, putted nicely as well without anything really going in for me.”
Kiradech flew into Perth the evening prior to the tournament and did commendably well despite not being able to practice. He started the round with five birdies in his first six holes and was able to bounce back immediately after every bogey.
“Yeah, I got a really decent start, five birdies in the first six holes, which surprised me a little bit. I didn’t know the course, but I really enjoy it. I love seeing kangaroos on the golf course,” said Kiradech.
Prom attributed his bogey-free round to the favourable wind condition and his sound course management. He missed only two fairways and three greens the entire round, which was highlighted by five birdies scored on the first, fourth, ninth, 11th and 13th.
“Everything went well today. I drove well and the wind direction today helped me a bit,” said Prom.
“At the long holes, it was downwind. That makes it play a bit easier. At the 18th, if you play into the wind, you need a long club to get to the greens. The difference can be as much as five clubs!”
Englishman Danny Willett, the 2016 US Masters champion, had a tough day and finished at four over.