It’s been a challenging day at the Australian PGA Championship with high winds making play difficult for the 156 strong field, however, a group of Australians are standing tall at the end of the opening round.

Ashley Hall (Vic) at 2-under 70 as well as Todd Sinnott (Vic) and Adam Stephens (NSW) at 1-under 71 sit in the top-five at the completion of the round, with Sinnott sacrificing an early two shot, 6 under, lead with three double bogeys on the run home.

Newly crowned PGA Tour of Australasia player of the year, Matt Miller (ACT), fired an even par round of 72 to sit inside the top-10 and although happy with his performance, admitted the remodeled layout together with having to contend with the wind made things challenging.

"Our first hole or so was pouring rain and driving wind so it wasn’t much fun, it was very difficult out there," said Millar.

It’s a new golf course for everyone. The local knowledge you may or may not have had doesn’t really exist anymore, but I thought the course was set up pretty well; there was some pins that you could get your ball to if you hit good shots."

Nick Cullen (WA), Jason Scrivener (WA) and Aaron Pike (QLD) all joined Millar on even par, rounding out an impressive seven Australians in the top-10.

Victorian Jack Wilson sits in equal 15th and opened his campaign steady with two birdies in the first four holes, until consecutive double bogeys on 17 and 18 saw him sign for 1-over 73.

Wilson has fond memories of RACV Royal Pines Resort, finishing the 2013 Australian PGA Championship in outright third behind Ricky Fowler and winner, Adam Scott, to take home the best performing rookie award – the Kel Nagle Plate.

"I really like it up here. I didn’t get to play last year because I was at Web Q-School but I got out here on Tuesday and saw the changes round the front nine and was pretty happy," said Wilson.

"I really like it tee to green.  It suits my eye and for some reason I feel comfortable out here.  It’s probably because of that result a couple of years ago," he continued.

"I got pretty lucky at times today, but I missed a couple of short ones, so I guess it all evens out, hopefully tomorrow everything can drop and everything goes my way."

The Australian PGA Championship is being played for AU$1.75million and is co-sanctioned with the European Tour, which has seen an improved strength of field through a greater depth of international players from Europe and South Africa competing in this year’s tournament.

Tickets for the tournament are available through Ticketek with children 16 years and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Discounts are also available for members of RACV and affiliated motoring clubs as well as for Gold Coast residents.
 
The Championship is proudly supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as well as the City of Gold Coast and Gold Coast Tourism.