Australians start well at Asia Pacific Am
Billy Dowling in action on day one – image APAC
Australian golfers have started well at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai, the Gold Coast’s Billy Dowling sharing the lead after day one with a round of 66, while his fellow Queenslander Harry Takis is just one back.
Dowling was in the second group out from the 10th tee on day one and took advantage of the outstanding early conditions with five birdies in his opening nine holes. Although the momentum slowed over the closing nine, it was good enough for a share of the day one lead with Vietnam’s Khahn Hun Le and Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand.
Dowling, a member of the Australian Eisenhower team and a member at RACV Royal Pines and the Brisbane Golf Clubs, was not surprisingly happy with his start.
“Very happy, satisfied with how I played,” said Dowling. “There were bits that could be better, but there were a lot of positives.
“We got the best of the greens because they had just been cut and rolled. A bit of dew on the floor, so maybe not so much spin with wedges. Yeah, you can’t complain with the condition of the course.
“I think it (the good start) settles you really well. It’s like a little bank, I suppose. You’ve got a few birdies out of the way. Tomorrow, I can just lean on that momentum from today. I don’t have to try and push for anything tomorrow. And yeah, just sets up the week really nicely.”
Takis was also out in the morning field, and the now San Diego State was both happy and disappointed with his round.
“I got off to a hot start. Steady in the middle, and then a few birdies late was nice, said Takis. “Felt like I was kind of losing track of the field today. I felt like I had to post a number.
“Definitely left a few out there. But I’m not out of it, that’s good.”
The next best of the Australasians was New Zealander Cooper Moore. The Christchurch golfer, who finished as the leading Australasian when 8th last year, opened with a round of 69 to be tied for 10th.
