In summary

  • Jason Norris fired a seven-under-par 65 with nine birdies to seize a three-stroke lead at the New South Wales Senior Open.
  • Matt Millar sits second at four-under, one shot clear of a group of five, including Brad Burns and Peter Fowler.
  • Defending champ Mat Goggin carded an even-par 72, while flu victims Brendan Jones and Andre Stolz both faded late.

For three hours, Jason Norris brought Thurgoona Golf Resort to its knees, as he stormed to the New South Wales Senior Open lead on Friday.

Norris, one of the longest hitters on the Australian Legends Tour, took full toll of the perfectly conditioned course in his morning round, pouring in nine birdies en route to a stunning seven-under-par 65.

And as it turned out, nobody in the afternoon field could sustain their chase of the Queenslander, who holds a three-stroke lead after the first of three rounds.

In fact, of the afternoon wave, only past champ Dave McKenzie and the popular Steve Jeffress reached the top 10 at two-under.

The ultra-consistent Matt Millar sits second at four-under, one shot clear of a group of five players, including Brad Burns and evergreen 1983 Australian Open champ Peter Fowler.

So entertaining was Norris’ round that he threw his hands up in mock celebration of an 8-foot putt which dropped on the 11th for the first par of his round.

“It was just one of those days where everything seemed to go in for a while,” Norris said.

“I had to ride it while I could and I was lucky enough to make a couple of important shots when I was in a little bit of trouble, so I was pretty happy with that.”

Other high-profile contenders still in the hunt include Peter Lonard at -2 and Scott Barr at -1, both of whom played without luck.

Defending champ Mat Goggin opened with an even-par 72, although he wasn’t thrilled to have played his final six holes four-over after earlier looming on the leaderboard.

Nathan Green mixed three birdies with three bogeys on his way to a 72; the same score as Brendan Jones (one of the several victims of the flu which has hit the Legends Tour this week) who stumbled with three late bogeys as his energy levels depleted.

Another in that category was perennial challenger Andre Stolz, who was three-under after starting on the 10th and making an eagle on 14 before wilting as the temperature climbed.

Birthday boy Terry Pilkadaris had his celebrations muted by a double-bogey six on the 13th as he battled to a 75, 10 shots off the pace.

Check out the Leaderboard for the New South Wales Senior Open here