New Zealander Daniel Pearce co-leads a packed leaderboard
after the first round of the Lanhai Open on the PGA TOUR China.
New Zealander Daniel Pearce co-leads a packed leaderboard
after the first round of the Lanhai Open on the PGA TOUR China.
Firing 4-under 68 in the first round, Pearce finds himself
tied at the top of the table with five other players.
Pearce comes into the fourth event of the PGA TOUR China season
in good form having already recorded two top-10 results.
Enjoying the challenge of the course, Pearce said caution on
the greens is still needed despite rain softening them during Wednesday’s
pro-am
"This is not playing very linksy. It’s quite soft, but you
have to hit your second shots well because there are a lot of undulations on
the greens," said Pearce.
"It can be very tricky if you’re on the wrong spot on the
green."
Pearce was 3-under the card through the turn and managed to
get to 6-under with three birdies in four holes on the back-9.
Sitting in the outright lead, Pearce had a shaky finish, a
pair of bogeys dropping him back into a tie.
"Unfortunately my finish wasn’t as good as I would have
liked it to be," said Pearce, who has also recorded a top-10 finish on the ISPS
HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia this year.
"I’m playing really nicely at the moment. I’m very happy
with the way I played today, and I putted nicely for most of the round, which
is good."
Sitting a shot further back of Pearce and outside the
leading group is leading Australian Lincoln Tighe.
He had a mixed day on course recording an eagle, four
birdies and three bogeys on his way to shooting 3-under 69.
The second round is now underway.