Four share lead on 68 in Glenmuir PGA event

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
Battling Cameron Clark refused to buckle under the weight of a bad back to card a four-under-par 68 for a share of the lead in the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship at The Oxfordshire today.

The Moor Hall pro declared himself delighted with a score that put him in pole position alongside Jamie Harris (Nevill), Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) and Dan Greenwood (Forest Pines).

But Clark had few illusions about how well he played in the £90,000 event, which is supported by Peugeot and MPI Financial Services, and confessed it was a very average display.

"It was very average, I hit some really poor shots but I putted well," said Clark.

However Clark can claim mitigating circumstances having revealed he's been out of action for a month in the build-up to the event with two near prolapsed discs that he believes will necessitate an overhaul of his swing over the winter.

"I'm happy with the score but I really struggled, it was a real scramble," he added. " I've been out with back injury for about a month so I'm not long back and that's not feeling fantastic. I just had to try and get it round so that's what I did."

Cameron dropped shots on the first, fifth and eighth holes but his red hot putter yielded gains at the third, fourth, seventh, 10th, 11th and 14th.

But, as he reflected on his round, Clark admitted there was plenty to ponder.

"I've got two almost two prolapsed discs in the lumbar," he added. "It was touch and go whether I needed an operation but they are going to try and work on it and give me some gym work to do over the winter and build it up.

"I'm also going to do a bit of work on swing, it's not good, I hit some awful shots.

"It just feels a bit rusty, I'm trying to dig deep and make a few putts. I've played okay in the region but overall I've played some good and average stuff so maybe it's time for a rebuild in the winter. I'm prepared to do that, I think a lot of my back problems come from my swing."

Harris meanwhile, who opened with three straight birdies, was left to rue the onset of rain towards the end of his round which culminated in him bogeying the last three holes.

"Those last three holes were brutal," he said. "The problem with it was that everything was wet, the grips, the gloves, we were hitting shots when the clubs were slipping out of the hands so it was tough.

"Obviously it's a disappointing finish but I would have taken 68 at the start of the day."

Greenwood relied on just a yardage book and rangefinder to fire himself into contention.

The Forest Pines pro, playing the course for the first time, showed few ill-effects for the lack of a practice round by reeling off six birdies and an eagle.

However Greenwood admitted he'd ridden his luck a bit during what proved a rollercoaster round with bogeys at the second, sixth, 13th and 16th holes.

"I got away with it a bit today, there were a couple of holes where I hit it and thought oh eck, I might not hit it there again tomorrow," he said.

Little's fine round floundered on the final two holes with a double-bogey, bogey finish.

Ireland's David Mortimer (Fore Ireland), making his debut in the Glenmuir, was a shot back at three under alongside Darren Griffiths (Oakdale) who also carded a 69.

Defending champion James Lee (Caerphilly) dropped three shots in the last four holes to sign for a 75.