In-form Aussie Lucas Herbert posted a sizzling eight-under 63 to lead but it’s his Crushers captain Cam Smith who’ll he will be keeping a close eye as the co-sanctioned ISPS Handa Australian Open continues over the Kingston Heath and Victoria club courses at the ISPS Handa Australian Open.
Herbert was brilliant form birdieing five holes from his fourth to 10th holes and then eagling his last on the Kingston Heath course and the No. 2 ranked course in Australia.
The duo of American Ryggs Johnston and Japanese amateur Rintaro Nakano are in second place after producing seven-under 65s on the nearby Victoria Club course.
Smith is among four players sharing fourth place each with six-under 65s at Kingston Heath.
The Victorian-born Herbert is no stranger to Melbourne’s famed ‘Sandbelt’ courses and that was obvious on a course further softened by overnight rain though last fornight’s NSW PGA champ, and like most professionals, felt he could have got more out of his round.
“I felt like there was a lot of shots left out there, I feel like that with every round of golf, to be fair,” said Herbert
“I didn’t really think I holed that many putts, just hit it quite nicely. Got it into the right spots.
“Probably got a couple of lucky breaks here and there where shots that maybe weren’t the best didn’t get punished the way they could have.
“Then to roll-in eagle at the last put a nice finish on the end of that round.
“Look, if that’s the worst round of the week, I’d be pretty happy.”
In winning the NSW PGA Herbert had come from behind to deny victory to his LIV Golf Crushers captain Smith and he’ll thus be wary that Smith will be out to make some kind of ammends.
“Cam will be the guy to beat this week I’d imagine,” Herbert said. “He’s been in some great form, he’s obviously finished, I think third, second, second in the last three events.
“I’ll be shocked if he’s not pushing me pretty hard on the weekend or I’m pushing him pretty hard on the weekend to win the Stonehaven Cup.”
Smith, and also off the 10th tee like Herbert, capped his round in grand manner with six birdies in succession from his 5th to 10th holes, and also after bogeying his third also on the Kingston Heath layout.
The current world No. 100 ranked Smith ended his effort with back-to-back birdies
“I know Lucas is playing really good golf and there’s a ton of other guys as well,” said Smith
“Leish is playing really good. His caddie Matty was saying how good he’s hitting it, so it’s going to be a good weekend.
American Harry Higgs is well in touch after a 5-under 66 while Nicolas Colsaerts, and a regular visitor ‘Down Under’ signed for a four-under 67.
