December 11, 2008

STEPHEN Dartnall had to survive Monday qualifying on a suburban track to get a start in the Australian Open, and now finds himself joint tournament leader with a share of the course record at Royal Sydney.

While camera-smashing John Daly was getting all the attention for the wrong reasons, the 24-year-old Perth journeyman was quietly compiling a superb round of seven-under-par 65.

He joined US tour regular Mathew Goggin and Ewan Porter on top of the leaderboard, two strokes clear of the rest of the field.

Daly is almost certain to miss his third straight cut in Australia, having stormed from the course after signing for a six-over par 78.

He blew his top on the final hole when spectator Brad Clegg got too close with his camera. Daly snatched it from his hands and smashed it to pieces on a nearby tree trunk, yelling "You want it back, I'll buy you a new one".

Daly may face sanction from the PGA tour of Australasia.

Dartnall, meanwhile, was unaware of all the drama as he pulled together six birdies and an eagle, offset by a lone bogey.

A second-year pro, he has been in the form of his life this week. He shot an amazing 10-under par 62 at Sydney course New Brighton on Monday, and is 17-under-par for his last two competitive rounds.

Far from being overwhelmed, Dartnall appears to be taking it in his stride.

"It is one of the bigger tournaments and there is more attention on it, but it does not really change how I think," he said.

"Maybe it will later on. At the moment I feel pretty calm."

Goggin also feels comfortable with his game, having finished second to Geoff Ogilvy in the Australian PGA at Coolum.

He got off to an absolutely sizzling start, with six birdies in his first eight holes.

He capped off his round by hammering a four-wood from more than 250 metres to tap-in range for an eagle at the 535m 16th.

He bogeyed the murderously difficult par-three 17th then recovered the shot by sliding home a two-metre putt for birdie at the last.

"I feel like I believe in myself a lot more," Goggin said.

Porter, who joined them by birdieing three of his last four holes shortly before darkness fell, was delighted with his form reversal.

"This is a total surprise. I've been up and down the whole year, but the last six months has been miserable," he said.

The flat stick was the key to his round. He used it only 23 times.

The three leaders had the best of the conditions as the wind died late in the day, but there is plenty of quality within striking distance.

Australian Masters winner Rod Pampling shot 67 and John Senden, who won the Open when it was last at Royal Sydney in 2006, shot a 68 that included a hole in one at the par-three 14th.

Former champion Peter Lonard shot 69, having switched putters for the umpteenth time.

Robert Allenby had 71 and pre-tournament favourite Geoff Ogilvy was on even par 72.

Good scores may be hard to come by in Friday's second round, with rain and high winds forecast.


APGA: Australian Open
Pos Name NAT Hole To Par 1 2 3 4 Total
T1 Stephen Dartnall AUS F -7 65 65
T1 Ewan Porter AUS F -7 65 65
T1 Mathew Goggin AUS F -7 65 65
T4 David Smail NZL F -5 67 67
T4 Rod Pampling AUS F -5 67 67
T4 Mark Brown NZL F -5 67 67
T7 Danny Lee (a) NZL F -4 68 68
T7 Troy Kennedy AUS F -4 68 68
T9 Peter Lonard AUS F -3 69 69
T9 Heath Reed AUS F -3 69 69
T9 Anthony Summers AUS F -3 69 69
T9 John Senden AUS F -3 69 69
T9 Andrew Bonhomme AUS F -3 69 69
T9 Craig Scott AUS F -3 69 69
T9 Andre Stolz AUS F -3 69 69