Teenage amateur Jake Higginbottom (pictured) has thrown down the challenge to US Tour winner Andre Stolz after a blistering opening round performance at the NSW PGA.
A rising star of Australian golf, Higginbottom's putter ran red hot yesterday at Wollongong Golf Club, carding a 62 which included eight birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.
But less than half an hour after his name was put at the top of the leaderboard, Stolz matched him in an ominous sign he means business this weekend.
"We've only got three rounds, so I was in full-on attack mode," Stolz told the Mercury. "I played pretty steady all day and hit a few good shots close.
"There were a few tough pins, they made them as tough as they could, but the greens were so soft and there was no wind to mess around with you."
They were joined at the top of the leaderboard by Sydney professional Martin Dive, who was the standout player of the afternoon session.
While the trio made a stunning start to the three-round tournament - reduced after play was cancelled on Thursday after heavy rain - defending champion Steven Bowditch is in danger of missing the cut.
Struggling with a broken hand suffered in the US a fortnight ago, Bowditch was one over yesterday.
Stolz is hoping to rejoin the US Tour at qualifying school next month after the Australian Open and PGA tournaments.
He won in Las Vegas in 2004, before almost giving the game away as he struggled with chronic wrist injuries.
Higginbottom, meantime, had an eagle three on the 17th and birdied the 18th in an action-packed finish to his round.
The rounds of 62 were just one shot off the course record set by 2009 winner Aaron Townsend.
‘‘It would be awesome to be in one of the last groups (tomorrow), but I’ve got to keep it going, so we’ll see how it goes,’’ 17-year-old Higginbottom said.
‘‘It was pretty soft, you could flag everything, you just had to hit good shots and I was hitting them good.’’
Higginbottom won the Queensland amateur championship this year and took out the China amateur title last year.
Former Australian Open winner Craig Parry is in the hunt at four-under, while Asian tour player Kurt Barnes stormed into a tie for second with Rohan blizard and Peter Wilson at seven-under, with two birdies on the last three holes.
Illawarra players Lincoln Tighe and Brad McIntosh put themselves in with a chance of making the cut after finishing under par yesterday.
Playing in his first tournament since turning professional, Tighe birdied three of the last four holes to be five off the leaders.
‘‘I was a bit nervous to start, but came home pretty strong,’’ he said.
‘‘I putted quite well and my short game was good, chipping got me out of trouble a couple of times. I just want to go out and have another solid round and be there Sunday.’’
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