Peter Uihlein put his recent injury troubles behind him to take a one-shot lead on day one of the ISPS HANDA Perth International.
The American missed consecutive cuts on the Desert Swing before withdrawing from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic with a wrist problem, but he returned to action in Malaysia last week and secured a top ten finish.
The 26 year old picked up where he left off at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, firing a seven under par 65 to take a one-shot advantage over Romain Wattel and Shiv Kapur.
Peter Uihlein powers his way to the lead in the Perth International. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
Wattel and Kapur have had struggles of their own recently, the former missing all three cuts in the Gulf States and the latter losing his playing privileges last season, but they showed no signs of any problems as they set the target in the morning before Uihlein leapfrogged them in the windier afternoon conditions.
Uihlein recovered from a bogey on the first with birdies on the third, fourth and seventh but his round came to life when he holed his second shot on the ninth for eagle, the ball taking one bounce before hitting the pin and dropping in.
He then took advantage of the par five 11th before an 18-foot putt on the 14th gave him a share of the lead and a tee shot to ten feet on the par three 17th moved him ahead.
“I had a 25-footer for par on the second and hooped it, and then holed a nice birdie on three and kind of relaxed a little bit after that,” he said.
“The wind switched pretty dramatically and it felt like the real stretch home was down-wind and I felt like we could get some birdies after that so it helped a little bit.
I’m pleased with the way it turned out. I was mentally sound. I didn’t really let the bad shots affect me – Peter Uihlein
“I putted nicely, which is always helpful, but if I didn’t hit a good shot I didn’t really let it bother me, I just let it roll off my back and I was ready for the next one.
“When it’s in the wind like this, you’re going to hit bad shots, everybody does, so you’ve just got to accept it and move on.”
Frenchman Wattel posted his lowest round of the season so far, registering five birdies and two bogeys on the front nine to turn in 33. A flawless inward nine with birdies on the 11th, 14th and 17th then saw him set the target which was soon matched by Kapur.
- Thanks to www.europeantour.com
