Golf: Good start for Kiwis at Q-school

Michael Hendry shot a 67 in the opening round. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Auckland golfer Michael Hendry has carried his good form into the PGA Tour qualifying school, shooting a five-under par 67 opening round in California.

Hendry, who this year won the Indonesian Open and last weekend was tied 13th Australian Masters in Melbourne, was two shots off the lead at the Bear Creek Golf Club, in the q-school second stage qualifying event.

The top 20 players and ties from Bear Creek win their way into next month's PGA q-school final, contested over six rounds, with only the low 25 and ties are exempt on the 2011 PGA Tour.

Hendry was one of seven New Zealanders chasing a place on the world's richest tour, at six four-round tournaments scattered across the breadth of the United States.

In the last four months Hendry has moved from being the sixth-highest New Zealander on the world rankings, to second behind David Smail, off the back of five top 20 finishes in Asia and Australia.

Rotorua youngster Danny Lee and former PGA Tour winner Phil Tautarangi also played Bear Creek, where Lee shot a one-over 73 to lie tied 33rd, and Tataurangi notched a four-over 76.

Brad Iles and Steven Alker, both regulars on the second-tier Nationwide Tour this year, were both in good shape after the first round of their respective tournaments.

Murupara-born Iles was second at TPC Craig Ranch in Texas, with a five-under 67, one shot behind American Fielding Brewbaker.

The top 20 players and ties progress from Craig Ranch to the q-school final, which will be held in Florida.

Alker, who this year failed to make the cut in any Nationwide Tour event, shone at Seaside, California, shooting a four-under 68 on the Bayonet course to lie fourth in an event which will propel 19 players into the finals.

Palmerston North PGA Tour regular Tim Wilkinson was tied 39th at Panama City in Florida, three-shots off the pace for a slot among the top 19 who will advance to the finals.

Grant Waite, a former PGA Tour winner who came from the same Palmerston North club as Wilkinson, shot an opening even-par 72 at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Florida.

Nineteen players will advance from Southern Hills. Waite lay tied 52nd.

- NZPA