Opening round of Australian PGA Championship delayed by storm
Sebastian Garcia – can he build on his early lead – image PGA of Australia
With the predicted afternoon deluge arriving at 3.15 at Royal Queensland during round one of the BMW Australian PGA Championship, many golfers were left having to finish off their opening rounds at 6.00 a.m. on Friday morning and with Friday’s second round being delayed by 90 minutes, the possibility exists for round two play to carry over to Saturday.
When play was called after lightning and a heavy deluge forced players form an already damp golf course, Spain’s Sebastian Garcia was playing his 15th hole of the day and at 7 under par he led by two over New South Wales’ Danile Garcia who, irrespective of what happens for the rest of the week, will walk away as one of the big winners having secured a BMW M5 Touring car for his hole in one at the 11th hole.
Gale was on the 13th when play was called, following a up his ace with a birdie at the 12th despite the fact that he had just secured a windfall worth A$260,000.
36-year-old Garcia has only recently regained his DP World Tour card after finishing 10th on the feeder Hotel Planner Tour in Europe, including a recent win in China and two other top fives in his last five starts.
Garcia’s best finish to date on the DP World Tour when holding a card to play there was when 4th in Kenya and Austria earlier in his career, but he has a great opportunity to finish this round off well and take a good lead into round two.
Daniel Gale – a great week, whatever happens – image PGA of Australia
