Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Solid start by Ross Drummond to Seniors Tour

Cambridge leads the way in the early
stages of the DGM Barbados Open

By PAUL SYMES
European Tour Media Staff
A run of four consecutive birdies on the back nine helped Jamaica’s Delroy Cambridge pip his close friend Jerry Bruner of America to the clubhouse lead, in the early stages of the eighth DGM Barbados Open at Royal Westmoreland Golf Club.
Joining Bruner in a tie for second was Australian Graham Banister, who admitted he is “lucky to be alive” after suffering a heart attack just five weeks ago.
After recovering from a slow start, a hot streak after the turn saw Cambridge – who started on the tenth – birdie the fifth, six, seventh and eighth holes on his way to a four under par round of 68.
The big-hitting Jamaican, who planned to celebrate his fine round with “a nap and some more practice”, attributed his sound showing to a change in his putter.
Cambridge, who in 2002 carded a 62 at Royal Westmoreland in a Pro-Am tournament, said: “I had been struggling with my putting so I switched to a belly putter, and so far it seems to be working.
“My confidence is up. I played well in some US Champions Tour Qualifying events, and I’ve carried that form into this week. I just hope it continues for the next few days.”
Cambridge was trailed by one shot by Banister, who displayed remarkable powers of recovery after suffering a mild heart attack at the start of the year.
At the behest of his friend Mike Goodes, Banister only recently returned to the professional ranks after a 25 year break to concentrate on his business interests. But a strong start and impressive finish to his round saw the Australian, who now lives in Carolina, fully justify his sponsor’s invitation.
He said: “I’m a bit beaten up by the wind, but this sure beats lying in a hospital bed. I’m lucky to be alive, let alone playing golf. It feels great just to be out there again, and to play well was a major bonus because I didn’t hold out much hope before arriving.
“It was always going to go one of two ways today – I could just as easily have shot 89 as 69. But tomorrow’s another day. Maybe if I shoot the same score again, I might think about winning.”
Banister was joined on three under par by Bruner, who with two runner-up finishes to his name is still searching for his maiden Barbados Open win.
Ross Drummond from Prestwick, who had a successful rookie year in 2008, is off and running in the new campaign for over-50s with a one-under-par 71.
Fellow Scots John Chillas, Martin Gray and Bill Longmuir are on the 74 mark.
Ian Woosnam, playing in his first European Seniors Tour Event after turning 50 at the weekend, finished on level par after an up and down round of 72.
The Welshman, who owns a home in Barbados, had looked to be into his stride after making birdies at the fifth and sixth holes. But a triple bogey 7 at the ninth checked his momentum, and he had to settle for a share of eighth place.
Woosnam said: “I’ve never played the course in such windy conditions before, so any advantage my local knowledge might have given me went out the window. My back was also playing up, so I couldn’t swing as freely as I would have liked.
“But I was still pretty pleased with the way I played, and it was just nice to be out there competing again. The triple bogey at the ninth was obviously disappointing, but at least I ended on a high with the birdie on 17.”

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72.
68 D Cambridge (Jam).
69 G Banister (Aus), J Bruner (US).
70 G Cali (Ita).
71 R Drummond (Sco), P Oakley (US), B Cameron (Eng).
72 H Carbonetti (Arg), K Spurgeon (Eng), B Boyd (US), J Quiros (Spa), I Woosnam (Wal).
73 G Encina (Chi), A Garrido (Spa), D Good (Aus), N Job (Eng), M Poxon (Eng).
74 J Chillas (Sco), V Garcia (Spa), M Gray (Sco), I Mosey (Eng), M Pinero (Spa), W Longmuir (Sco), D J Russell (Eng).
75 J Hall (Eng), D O’Sullivan (Ire), A Tapie (US), A Barrera (Arg), B Lendzion (US),
76 T Allen (Eng), M Bembridge (Eng), Gordon J Brand (Eng), D Johnson (US), M Miller (Sco), T Price (Wal), B Hardwick (Can), J Rivero (Spa).
77 B Heuchan (Can), T Horton (Eng).
78 L Carbonetti (Arg), T Rastall (Eng), B Larratt (Eng), P O'Hagan (Ire),
79 T Charnley (Eng), M Gregson (Eng), J Heggarty (NIr).
82 D Durnian (Eng).
87 P Teravainen (US).

Labels:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Copyright © Colin Farquharson

If you can't find what you are looking for.... please check the Archive List or search this site with Google