ID :
47837
Thu, 02/26/2009 - 22:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/47837
The shortlink copeid
O'Malley tops Moonah Classic leaderboard
(AAP) - Veteran Peter O'Malley wandered out of the golfing wilderness on Thursday to tame the windswept Moonah Links layout and emerge with a share of the first round lead.
A winner in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, O'Malley is trying to shake off an
unimpressive European season and find form for yet another tilt on the continent.
After playing well in last week's Johnnie Walker Classic, the 43-year-old from
Bathurst continued to showcase the game he hopes will lift his stocks abroad.
O'Malley fired a four under par 68 in the US Nationwide Tour event to set the pace
along with Queenslander Andrew Bonhomme, Argentinian Miguel Angel Carballo and
Americans Hunter Haas and Daniel Summerhays.
An irregular winner but consistent performer over the past 15 years, O'Malley came
to prominence when he sprung from nowhere to collect six shots over the closing
holes and take the 1992 Scottish Open.
His last victory was a Nationwide Tour event - the 2005 New Zealand PGA, but
O'Malley said he has not been on the pace in recent seasons.
"At the PGA last year, at Coolum, with six holes to go I was one shot behind but I
bogeyed three of the last six holes and just dropped out," O'Malley said.
"Before that probably a year before when I was in Germany and I finished fourth, I
was right in that tournament. But it's been a while.
"Last year was pretty ordinary really. The first half of the year wasn't too bad but
the second half pretty much from July on I just didn't play well at all.
"I couldn't score, I just couldn't shoot the three, four, five under.
"At the end of last year in Europe, out of the last nine tournaments we played,
eight of them had preferred lies because it was so wet and that just doesn't suit
the way I play at all.
"And it just put a lot more pressure on my short game because I wasn't quite hitting
it as close."
But that form is showing distinct signs of a reversal.
"I played well last week, I shot 10 under in the last three rounds and just played
great so I was happy coming into this week with the way I was playing," he said.
And as much as Moonah Links provides a puzzle to many players, O'Malley is learning
to plot his way around the course.
"The more I play it I'm finding different ways to get around the golf course," he said.
"There's a lot of thinking involved in playing the course."
"There are a few holes I think are a little bit severe in the driving areas. It's
certainly a challenge but the way it's set up this week is pretty good."
Both Haas and Summerhays said the layout demanded respect or shots would not be
rewarded.
"The wind changes so much," Summerhays said.
"If you keep it out of the bunkers you're in good shape. You need to play smart, you
need to try and stay away from the trouble."
Haas said: "It's not an easy golf course - there are some good players shooting some
bad scores."
A winner in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, O'Malley is trying to shake off an
unimpressive European season and find form for yet another tilt on the continent.
After playing well in last week's Johnnie Walker Classic, the 43-year-old from
Bathurst continued to showcase the game he hopes will lift his stocks abroad.
O'Malley fired a four under par 68 in the US Nationwide Tour event to set the pace
along with Queenslander Andrew Bonhomme, Argentinian Miguel Angel Carballo and
Americans Hunter Haas and Daniel Summerhays.
An irregular winner but consistent performer over the past 15 years, O'Malley came
to prominence when he sprung from nowhere to collect six shots over the closing
holes and take the 1992 Scottish Open.
His last victory was a Nationwide Tour event - the 2005 New Zealand PGA, but
O'Malley said he has not been on the pace in recent seasons.
"At the PGA last year, at Coolum, with six holes to go I was one shot behind but I
bogeyed three of the last six holes and just dropped out," O'Malley said.
"Before that probably a year before when I was in Germany and I finished fourth, I
was right in that tournament. But it's been a while.
"Last year was pretty ordinary really. The first half of the year wasn't too bad but
the second half pretty much from July on I just didn't play well at all.
"I couldn't score, I just couldn't shoot the three, four, five under.
"At the end of last year in Europe, out of the last nine tournaments we played,
eight of them had preferred lies because it was so wet and that just doesn't suit
the way I play at all.
"And it just put a lot more pressure on my short game because I wasn't quite hitting
it as close."
But that form is showing distinct signs of a reversal.
"I played well last week, I shot 10 under in the last three rounds and just played
great so I was happy coming into this week with the way I was playing," he said.
And as much as Moonah Links provides a puzzle to many players, O'Malley is learning
to plot his way around the course.
"The more I play it I'm finding different ways to get around the golf course," he said.
"There's a lot of thinking involved in playing the course."
"There are a few holes I think are a little bit severe in the driving areas. It's
certainly a challenge but the way it's set up this week is pretty good."
Both Haas and Summerhays said the layout demanded respect or shots would not be
rewarded.
"The wind changes so much," Summerhays said.
"If you keep it out of the bunkers you're in good shape. You need to play smart, you
need to try and stay away from the trouble."
Haas said: "It's not an easy golf course - there are some good players shooting some
bad scores."
