West Australian Curtis Luck has defied a limited preparation at one of New Zealand’s most exacting courses to earn a share of the lead on day one of the Quinovic NZ PGA Championship.
Twenty-four years since last hosting a major golf tournament, Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club leant on a hefty north-westerly wind and an afternoon blanketed in rainfall to prevent all but 10 players from breaking par.
That Luck could post 3-under 67 to lead alongside Korean-based New Zealander Sungjin Yeo was even more remarkable, given his late arrival.
Luck was among the many players caught up in the travel chaos that enveloped Wellington on Sunday and Monday, only flying into the Kiwi capital at midnight Tuesday and then taking an Uber to Paraparaumu Beach on Wednesday morning to play the pro-am.
It would be his lone look at the iconic golf course before teeing off in the third group on Thursday, making six birdies and three bogeys to enter Round 2 tied for the lead.
“It’s probably not the best golf course to under-prepare on,” admitted Luck, who has finished top-10 in five of his seven starts this season.
“There are some that you can get away with. This one, I think most of the players, but potentially for me, I’ll be learning it until Sunday.
“There’s so much going on. It’s so intricate.”
Yeo arrived on the back of a Korea academy training camp in Thailand and with few good memories to call upon at the venue. Formerly based in Auckland and runner-up in this championship three years ago at Gulf Harbour, Yeo was thrilled to finally post a score on one of New Zealand’s most revered layouts.
“I love the course, but I’ve never actually played really good here. This is my first time playing well at this course,” said Yeo.
“Today, I started with a three-putt on the first hole of the day, the 10th. After that, I went no bogeys, four birdies.
“It was a really good round today.”
Victorian pair Todd Sinnott and Zach Murray share third after both shot 68; Sinnott making three birdies on the trot to close out his round, while Murray made up almost two shots on the field with a birdie at the par-3 fifth.
With experience playing in the U.S, Europe and throughout Asia, Sinnott is relishing the chance to play a golf course that demands excellence from every facet of your game.
“We are pretty lucky to be playing a tournament here,” said Sinnott, who hit 8-iron to 10 feet at 16, holed a 10-footer for birdie on 17 and got up-and-down from the bunker to make birdie on 18.
“Greens are perfect. They’re quick; probably as good as poa annua gets.
“This style of golf course encourages you to use your imagination and your creativity, which I like. You’ve got to hit different flights, you can use the ground and you’ve got to hit really good shots both off the tee and into the green.
“I really like it.”
Only one player in the afternoon groups managed to break par; South Australian Lachlan Barker posting 1-under 69 as American Chase Koepka, New South Welshman Jye Pickin and Queensland’s James Mee each shot even-par 70s.
“I think I played my last 11 holes when it was pretty brutal out there in 1-over-par, so I’ll take that,” said Koepka.
“Playing links golf, you kind of expect when it gets tough, it gets extremely hard.
“I can’t imagine there’s too many scores at even or better this afternoon right now.
“I think it did a good job in these tough conditions.
“You just kind of got to keep it in front of you, and I felt like I did that today for the most part.”
The final two rounds of the Quinovic NZ PGA Championship will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports. Coverage starts at 1:30pm AEDT on Saturday and 11:30am AEDT Sunday.
