Purcell opens with 74 on professional debut in Australia
Conor Purcell. Picture: MGA
Portmarnock's Conor Purcell dropped four shots in his last five holes in testing afternoon winds to open with a two-over 74 on his professional debut in the AVJennings NSW Open in Australia.
The Dubliner (22) ended the day tied for 101st in the 156-man field as Josh Younger shot a bogey-free, nine-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead at a firm and fast Twin Creeks Golf and Country Club near Sydney.
“It got very gusty at times on the back nine,” said Purcell, who birdied the fourth and followed bogeys at the sixth and eighth with birdies at the ninth, 10th and 11th to move swiftly to two-under before dropping shots at the 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th.
“The greens firmed up and got quicker. I hit the ball well and had it going through 12 holes and just got on a bad run coming in as the course got bouncy and fast.”
Younger overhauled Min Woo Lee and Justin Warren, who set the pace with eight-under 64s earlier in the day.
"I started off on the back-nine and made six straight and then just tried to keep out of my own way from there on in," said Younger, who set off just 30 minutes before Purcell.
"People won't believe me but the back-nine was tough. We came through the turn and the wind got up and that front-nine played quite difficult.
"I had a good start and was able to stay patient and let things happen. I picked up a couple more coming in and saved a couple of pars."
Amateur Nathan Barbieri, the man Purcell beat in the final of the Australian Amateur Championship final in January, shot a seven-under 65 to share fourth place with Dimitrios Papadatos and Travis Smith.
