Brandt Snedeker shoots 84 in opening round of Australian PGA

Gibson had moved within two of the lead when he finished his round but back on the golf course Englishman Mark Foster, first round leader, South African Zander Lombard, and Victorian rookie, Todd Sinnott, were battling for the lead.

Playing in the second group out this morning, Snedeker was confronted with strong winds, rain and a long bogey train.

“This gives me some confidence going into the weekend, but at the same time, these are all players that can shoot seven, eight under, both rounds out there over the weekend”, Lingmerth said.

One of five players tied for eighth, two strokes behind Lingmerth, was U.S.-based Australian Rhein Gibson, who shot 64 on Friday after an opening 79.

Gibson said he rated it better than his Guinness World Record 16-under-par 55 he carded in an out-of-competition match with friends in Oklahoma three years ago.

Tournament favourite and headline act Brandt Snedeker endured a nightmare start to the Australian PGA Championship on Thursday, slumping to an astonishing nine-over after nine holes at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast.

“It was definitely one of my most professional rounds”, said Lombard, who qualified for the tournament via South Africa’s Sunshine Tour. He shot 75 Friday and was 15-over to miss qualifying by nine strokes.

Just six players shot under par.

“The mental pressure was lifted a little bit and I think that hurt my performance in a way, so I’m going try to find a way to put some pressure back on myself this week and see if I can play well and have a chance come the weekend”.

‘Just a frightful day, there’s nothing else to say. “I feel like they deserved better and my game was not up to it obviously”.

Others who had a tough day at the Royal Pines office were defending champion Greg Chalmers (76), Robert Allenby (76), Peter Senior (77), Edoardo Molinari (77), Jarrod Lyle (77), Craig Parry (77), Rod Pampling (78), Cameron Smith (78), Nick O ” Hern (81), and Stephen Leaney (82).