A Queenslander who gave hope to every battling amateur with his first shot and a monster hitter with a magic touch on the greens lead The Murray Open after day one of the $50,000 event.
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Sydneysider Josh Armstrong and Charlie Dann broke the course record at the Corowa Golf Club on Tuesday, firing sublime rounds of 10-under par 63.
Dann had a remarkable nine putts on his first nine holes, chipping in twice in firing a stunning seven-under 29, but his first shot gave no indication of the greatest round of his life.
"I topped a three-wood, it somehow rolled out 200m and I laid up with a little five-iron to the front of the green and chipped in to start the day," he explained.
"A few holes later I hit a provisional ball off the tee, thinking I'd lost my ball, and I ended up making eagle on that hole, I think you always need something like that to shoot something pretty low.
"I've never gone below six-under in an event, bar club rounds."
The late bloomer, who only made his first Queensland State team at 24, was 11-under heading to his last hole (the ninth), but pushed his drive into the right-hand side bunker and was then forced to hit through two trees.
"I'm surprised the last one didn't get through two trees, rather than just one," he offered, highlighting his good fortune all day.
It was his only bogey with an eagle and nine birdies.
Armstrong also had an eagle, but posted one more birdie and bogey apiece than his fellow leader.
"I did everything pretty solid to be honest, I probably putted the best I have for a long time actually, 'Teasey' (Golf NSW media and digital manager David Tease) got a nice little photo of me kissing my putter on the last," he said excitedly.
Armstrong is one of the biggest players on the Australasian circuit at 199cms and 120kgs and can crunch the ball an imposing 300m off the tee.
The pair holds a one-shot lead over West Australian Daniel Fox, with Mitch Davis two shots further back.
Four players are tied on six-under heading into Wednesday's final round, including Armstrong's partner Doey Choi, who shot the ladies record.
The Concord (Sydney) member will never forget her first hole as a professional - four-putting the 10th.
"I wasn't nervous, but I was a bit embarrassed, my first hole as a pro and I four-putt (laughs), but I bounced back pretty quickly with two birdies after that," she said.
I wasn't nervous, but I was a bit embarrassed, my first hole as a pro and I four-putt (laughs),
- Doey Choi after a horror start
Choi turned pro last Saturday, one day after her 21st.
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"I didn't putt very good, but I hit everything inside 15 feet, which helps a lot."
Wodonga's Daniel Gill (71) shares the amateur lead.
