Golf: Bright Royal start for NZ trio

SYDNEY - Matthew Lane, Michael Campbell and Stephen Scahill tamed a testing Royal Queensland course to be the best-placed New Zealand golfers after the opening round of the $A800,000 ($1.08 million) Players Championship in Brisbane yesterday.

The relatively short course with the tight fairways and small greens proved challenging on a day when winds were changeable.

In-form Kiwi Michael Long suffered most, carding a five-over 78 to leave him with an uphill task to make tomorrow's cut.

The top three New Zealanders each shot three-under 70s to lie three strokes behind outright leader Grant Dodd of Queensland.

One shot behind Dodd was Western Australian amateur Brett Rumford and unknown New South Welshman Grant Kenny.

Golfer-of-the-moment Aaron Baddeley recovered to finish one-over yesterday. At one stage the Victorian amateur, who won last week's Australian Open and is tipped to be one of the game's big stars, was four-over but saved himself with an eagle and a birdie late in the round.

A sleepy-eyed Baddeley awoke for an mid-round golf nightmare, having dragged himself out of bed at 4.30am yesterday morning to be one of the first players out on the course.

Since winning the Australian Open at Royal Sydney on Sunday, the 18-year-old has barely had a minute's peace, swamped by media and well-wishers.

"I was just so tired," he admitted.

"One over is not too bad for a bad round. I'm still in the golf tournament.

"I hit some shots I've never hit for years out there. I've never felt that tired before.

"It's been all go ever since I won (the Australian Open), it's just been non stop."

The youngster was still wearing his trademark smile after narrowly missing a birdie on the last hole that would have capped a great comeback over the closing six holes.

The other Kiwis under par were Elliot Boult on two-under and Tony Christie with one-under, while Mark Brown and Richard Lee managed even par 73.

Those with work ahead today were Paul Devenport, Marcus Wheelhouse (both 74), Stephen Gordon (75), Long (78), Mahal Pearce, Grant Moorhead (79) and Stuart Thompson (80). - NZPA