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Unknowns Tighe, Yu and Sinnott upstage Australian Open elite

Geoff Ogilvy, a former US Open Champ, is back in form. (Image: Flickr)
Expert
26th November, 2015
1

Any golf fan browsing through the 156-strong Australian Open field at the Australian Golf Club wouldn’t have glanced at Lincoln Tighe, Chun-An Yu, or Todd Sinnott.

But the 26-year-old Tighe leads the Australian Open with a superb five-under that included seven birdies and just two bogeys, while the 16-year-old amateur from Taiwan, Yu, is two shots off the pace with four birdies and only one bogey – he was never in trouble. And Sinnott also shot four birdies and a bogey.

It was very impressive work from Tighe, ranked 1022, and Sinnott, ranked 1193, while the teenager Yu will be an amateur for some time yet.

They left world number one and defending champion Jordan Spieth, and world 12 Adam Scott sharing equal 19th on even par – and lucky to be that high.

Spieth described his two-birdie two-bogey round as “pretty boring” and he admonished himself for turning at two-under, but carding two bogeys on the way home.

“I hit only two fairways in the last nine, so I have plenty of work to do,” Spieth added.

Scott won’t be in contention until he irons out his wedges that cost him at least five shots yesterday that included two doubles, two bogeys, and six birdies – a crazy round.

“I was probably lucky to survive today,” was Scott’s honest summation.

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The best rounds among the pre-tournament contenders came from Australians Matt Jones and Geoff Ogilvy, who made interesting contrasts.

Jones was arguably the best ball-striker in the field all day in the toughest afternoon conditions with his five birdies and a bogey. Ogilvy had the best start of anyone with four birdies in his first six holes, but carded one-over for the next 13 with a double, two bogeys, and three birdies – what a waste.

The upset of the day was Peter Senior, who won his third gold jacket last weekend at the Australian Masters, the oldest at 56 to do so.

Yesterday Senior said, “I was embarrassed and ashamed” when he carded an 80.

No way Peter, your countless fans are with you all the way, through thick and thin. Okay, yesterday was thick, but there’s always today.

Leaders after 18 holes
66 – Lincoln Tighe
67 – Matt Jones
68 – Geoff Ogilvy, Todd Sinnott, Chun-An Yu
69 – Joon-woo Choi, Stephen Leaney, Alistair Presnell, John Senden, Brett Rumford

Others
70 – Lee Westwood
71 – Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott
72 – Stuart Appleby, Richard Green
73 – Marc Leishman
74 – Robert Allenby

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