A world record and a hole-in-one yesterday marked the opening day of a pioneering golf tournament in Australia where the men’s and women’s events are played at the same time.
The Vic Open is the only tournament in the world with male and female fields teeing off, in alternate groups, on the same course and for equal prize money.
It has been running as a dual male-female event for six years, but the tournament took on added significance this year with the European Tour and the LPGA Tour jointly sanctioning it for the first time, with prize money significantly boosted.
Photo AFP
Played at the 13th Beach Golf Links south of Melbourne, local hope Ned Flanagan, a former US amateur champion, shot a 10-under 62 — one shy of the course record — for a two-shot lead among the men.
“Just had one of those days where everything seemed to kind of go right,” Flanagan said.
On the women’s side, England’s Felicity Johnson hit a 65, two in front of a group including Australia’s Su Oh, who nailed a spectacular hole-in-one at the 15th hole.
“There was this one guy near the green who said it just trickled in. So I had one guy see it, which was good enough,” she said.
Taiwan’s Tsai Pei-ying, Chien Pei-yun and Teresa Lu were in a large group on four-under after carding 69s.
Reigning British Open champion Georgia Hall hit a 70, while world No. 7 Minjee Lee could only muster a 72.
The day was marked by Australia’s James Nitties carding a world record-equaling nine birdies in a row.
It matched the feat first accomplished by Mark Calcavecchia at the 2009 Canadian Open on the PGA Tour and was the first time it had officially been achieved on the European Tour.
“I’m pumped,” said Nitties, the world No. 668 who was two shots behind leader Flanagan. “I don’t hold any other world records that I know of, so to be a part of one is pretty cool.”
Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who won the 2006 US Open and three World Golf Championships, hit a 66 in his opening round and said the format was a win-win.
“People are noticing because of the equal prize money, and the LPGA and the guys-and-girls thing. That’s a big deal,” he said.
Fellow Australian Karrie Webb, who has 41 wins on the LPGA Tour and carded a 73, is also a supporter of the progressive concept.
“I think all of us here in Australia have known how great this event is since its conception of equal prize money for men and women, and the way it’s done, too, because a lot of people think: ‘Oh, the women will be on one course, the men will be on the other,’” she said. “The way it’s alternating groups of men and women, I think it’s great for the golf fan that comes to watch because they can watch the best of both men and women, and sit on one hole and watch that all day.”
Additional reporting by staff writer
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