Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, The Hon. James Marape, had the honour of hitting the ceremonial first tee shot on Thursday morning and then it was left to the strongest field of international professionals ever seen in PNG to take to a firm and fast Royal Port Moresby Golf Club layout.

A late downpour forced the suspension of play and softened the course somewhat, the decision made at 5:07pm to suspend play for the day and to resume at 6:45am on Friday morning with 27 players still to complete Round 1.

Carrying on the superb form he has displayed on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series through the winter months, Dobbelaar was 7-under through 11 holes before giving back two shots with bogeys at 12 and 13.

He navigated the tricky finish in even par to post 5-under 67 and will start Round 2 one clear of defending champion Cory Crawford (68), Victorian James Marchesani (68), Heritage Classic champion Will Florimo (68) and PGA of Australia Associate Taj Egea (68). Sam Slater is in a group of four players at 3-under with three holes left to play.

Days out from his 25th birthday, Dobbelaar is trying to recapture the form that saw him claim the 2023 NZ PGA Championship and, for the most part, liked what he delivered on Thursday.

“It’d be good to get off to a good start this season,” said Dobbelaar, who has won four times on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series since May.

“I’ve got some good goals for the year, so it’d be nice to kick off the year with a really good one.”

Making the turn in 4-under, Dobbelaar pushed further ahead with an eagle at the par-5 10th followed by a birdie on 11.

He would drop two shots at the next two holes but was content with how he managed his final five holes.

“Got it going through the middle part of the round, got it to 7-under at one stage, which was nice,” said Dobbelaar.

“And the last kind of six holes or so are quite tricky, so just kind of hung on and hit some good shots coming home.”

Royal Port Moresby Golf Club member Gideon Tikili has emerged as a surprise contender and sits just two strokes off the lead after a round of 3-under 69.

Tikili has played his national Open on five occasions previously but is playing this week for the first time as a professional.

Tikili, who made the trip to play the WA PGA Championship at Kalgoorlie last October, joined the pro ranks just weeks ago and has twice made the cut in a PNG Open as a Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia event.

His round featured six birdies and three bogeys and Tikili now finds himself in a share of seventh and rubbing shoulders with the elite of the Australasian tour.

“I’m satisfied. I wouldn’t say not too happy or not too angry, just neutral,” said Tikili, who is ranked 5,016th on the Official World Golf Ranking.

“I tried to be patient, not to panic when I get a bogey, so something that I worked on. So I’m pleased with that.”

Tikili is not the only Papua New Guinea player under par after Round 1.

Amateur Cassie Koma won the PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby in 2020 when the field was limited to local players due to COVID-19 restrictions and had an eagle, five birdies and six bogeys in his round of 1-under 71 to be in a tie for 20th.

The 2026 PNG Open is supported by Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited and will feature 22 winners on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia alongside 21 Papua New Guinea professional and amateur golfers in the field of 120.

The weekend will also see the second staging of the PNG Women’s Open where five Papua New Guinean women will join nine members of the WPGA Tour of Australasia for 36 holes across the weekend.