SYDNEY — Local James Nitties hit a sparkling seven-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead at the midway point of the Australian Open Friday after Jordan Spieth charged but faltered and Adam Scott moved into contention at Royal Sydney.
Nitties eagled the par-five second, his 11th hole, and rode the gathering wind with five more birdies on the way home to storm to the top of the leaderboard at nine-under, a shot ahead of New Zealander Ryan Fox.
World No. 7 Scott also blitzed the back nine for a 65 and a share of fourth place on six-under, with American Spieth a further shot back in a share of ninth after a double bogey at the 15th left him with a 70.
Australia’s Rhein Gibson, who owns the record for the lowest round in golf after shooting a 55 in Oklahoma in 2012, carded 66 to take third place on seven-under behind Fox, who mixed six birdies with two bogeys for a second 68.
Asia-Pacific amateur champion Curtis Luck and Lucas Herbert, who shared the overnight lead, both shot 71s to drop to fourth with fellow Australians Scott, Rod Pampling and Todd Sinnott.
Scott got an early chance to make up for his disappointing opening round of 73 but only hit his considerable stride on the back nine, where he picked up four birdies as well as an eagle courtesy of a brilliant four-iron approach shot at his 16th hole.
Hughes grabs PGA lead
Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes, in only his ninth US PGA start, fired a nine-under-par 61 Thursday to grab a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the RSM Classic.
The 287th-ranked player in the world, who turns 26 Wednesday, reeled off nine birdies and nine pars to grab the lead at the par-70 Seaside course.
It was the lowest first round in tournament history and a career-low for the long-time developmental tour standout, who was one stroke off Tommy Gainey’s 2012 course record.
Hughes sank a 27-foot birdie putt at the par-3 third to close out back-to-back birdies, then birdied the odd-numbered holes to the turn, dropping a 28-foot birdie putt at the fifth and a 19-footer at the ninth.
A 55-foot chip-in birdie to begin the back nine sparked a run that saw him birdie 11, 14 and 15 and have a chance to birdie the last three holes to match Jim Furyk’s tour-record 58. But he missed three birdie bids beyond 25 feet and parred his way in.
Stewart Cink, the 2009 British Open champion, and fellow American Jonathan Byrd shared second with career-low 62s, also at Seaside.
Cink left the tour in May when his wife Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer. She walked the course with him after undergoing chemotherapy in recent months and receiving a positive report from doctors this week.
American Blayne Barber fired a 63 to stand on seven-under. Another trio on seven-under, who shot the low rounds of the day at 65 on the Plantation course, included Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata and Americans Cameron Tringale and Kyle Stanley. — Agencies
