CONNOR SYME DURING THE 2022 ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP. MATT HOOPER PHOTOGRAPHY.
30 NOVEMBER, 2023 - SHANK, BY MATT HOOPER: IT WAS A SENSATIONAL ST ANDREW'S DAY FOR CONNOR SYME IN SYDNEY, AS THE SCOT MADE THE PERFECT START TO THE 2023 ISPS HANDA AUSTRALIAN OPEN. THE 28-YEAR-OLD FROM DRUMOIG SHOT 64 AT THE AUSTRALIAN GOLF CLUB TO END THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL OPEN JUST 2 SHOTS OFF THE EARLY LEAD, HELD BY FORMER CHAMPION CAMERON DAVIS. SYME IS COMING INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP OFF THE BACK OF HIS 7TH TOP-20 FINISH OF THE YEAR AT THE FORTINET AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, AND APPEARS TO BE CLOSER TO HIS FIRST DP WORLD TOUR WIN THAN EVER BEFORE.
STARTING AT THE ICONIC FIRST HOLE AT THE AUSTRALIAN GOLF CLUB, SYME MADE BIRDIES AT 3, 5 AND 9 TO SHOOT AN OUTWARD NINE HOLES OF 32, AND REALLY CAUGHT FIRE ON THE BACK NINE. HE MADE HIS SECOND SUCCESSIVE BIRDIE AT THE 10TH BEFORE MAKING FURTHER BIRDIES AT 12, 14, 17 AND 18, WITH A SOLITARY BOGEY AT THE PAR-3 15TH HOLE.
SYME WAS DELIGHTED WITH HIS START, AND SPOKE TO THE MEDIA FOLLOWING HIS ROUND: “I’m really pleased with that, to be honest. It was pretty tricky there on the back 9 for us as well. I definitely putted really well. I kind of had a lot of good shots and took my chances when I had them, so I don't think I really hit anything from length, but a lot of good chances for birdie, which was very pleasing.
“This is a strong golf course. The Lakes presents a different challenge I guess to this. You still have to play excellent though, because there were a lot of good scores over at The Lakes this morning and this afternoon, but I’m pleased with my start.”
“This is a strong golf course. The Lakes presents a different challenge I guess to this. You still have to play excellent though, because there were a lot of good scores over at The Lakes this morning and this afternoon, but I’m pleased with my start.”
SYME WILL TEE OFF HIS SECOND ROUND, AT THE LAKES GOLF CLUB, AT 0749 AEST FRIDAY (2049 Thursday GMT), PLAYING ALONGSIDE RAFAEL CABRERA-BELLO AND DANIEL HILLIER, TEEING OFF THE 10TH.
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
1- Cameron Davis -9 63
2- Patrick Rodgers -8 64
T3- Hayden Hopewell -7 65
T3- Connor Syme -7 64
T5- Grant Forrest -6 65
T5- Alexander Levy -6 66
T5- Nicolo Galletti -6 66
T5- Sean Crocker -6 66
T9- Yuto Katsuragawa -5 67
T9- Min Woo Lee -5 67
THE ISPS HANDA AUSTRALIAN OPEN IS PART OF THE OPEN QUALIFYING SERIES, WITH THE LEADING 3 NON-EXEMPT PLAYERS AFTER 72 HOLES, INSIDE THE TOP 10, EARNING A PLACE IN THE 152ND OPEN AT ROYAL TROON NEXT JULY. SYME IS CURRENTLY NOT EXEMPT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP, SO A GOOD PERFORMANCE OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS COULD SECURE HIS SPOT IN THE MAJOR NEXT SUMMER.
CAMERON DAVIS DURING ROUND ONE OF THE ISPS HANDA AUSTRALIAN OPEN. GETTY IMAGES.
30 NOVEMBER, 2023 - DP WORLD TOUR: Past champion Cameron Davis carded a nine under par 63 to take the early lead at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
The 28-year-old, whose maiden professional victory came at his national open in 2017, continued the form which saw him finish in a share of seventh at last week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship as he carded seven birdies and an eagle in his opening round at The Lakes Golf Club.
The ISPS HANDA Australian Open is being played concurrently with the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open across two venues, The Australian Golf Club and The Lakes Golf Club, with the three-round All Abilities Championship being contested at the same time at The Australian.
Davis, who won the Australian Open six years ago at The Australian, was five under through his first five holes, with birdies on the tenth, 11th and 13th and an eagle on the 14th. He then made four further gains as he took one a one stroke lead over Patrick Rodgers of the United States, who carded an eight under par 64, also at The Lakes.
The 28-year-old, whose maiden professional victory came at his national open in 2017, continued the form which saw him finish in a share of seventh at last week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship as he carded seven birdies and an eagle in his opening round at The Lakes Golf Club.
The ISPS HANDA Australian Open is being played concurrently with the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open across two venues, The Australian Golf Club and The Lakes Golf Club, with the three-round All Abilities Championship being contested at the same time at The Australian.
Davis, who won the Australian Open six years ago at The Australian, was five under through his first five holes, with birdies on the tenth, 11th and 13th and an eagle on the 14th. He then made four further gains as he took one a one stroke lead over Patrick Rodgers of the United States, who carded an eight under par 64, also at The Lakes.
“I made a couple of more nice putts today to get that score keeping on going down, but it was a really solid round of golf." SAID DAVIS. "I know this place relatively well, so I felt like I had plenty of good memories in the bank to go out and play the course with. That’s by far the cleanest round I’ve ever had around here and without the wind, it was awesome to make the most of the conditions the way they were.”
Joining them at the same venue was Australia’s Hayden Hopewell, who carded a seven under par 65. DP World Tour members Sean Crocker, Grant Forrest and Alex Levy share fifth with American Nicolo Galletti on six under par.
Joining them at the same venue was Australia’s Hayden Hopewell, who carded a seven under par 65. DP World Tour members Sean Crocker, Grant Forrest and Alex Levy share fifth with American Nicolo Galletti on six under par.
