South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli defied tough scoring conditions to grab the clubhouse lead at the Australian PGA Championship with a two under par 70.
The 25 year old, who won on The Challenge Tour in 2013, started on the back nine and, after a bogey on the 13th, picked up three birdies in four holes approaching the turn.
Nine consecutive pars on the way in gave Frittelli the only under par round of the day so far, with England’s Tom Lewis and Ireland’s Paul Dunne joining Australia’s Matthew Millar in firing level par rounds of 72.
Out on the course, England’s Mark Foster birdied the third, fourth and sixth to counter a bogey at the fifth and reach two under through six, with Australian Nick Cullen level with Frittelli and Foster through seven.
Dunne and Lewis both shot to fame when they led The Open Championship as amateurs and the former – playing his first full season on The European Tour – enjoyed a real mixed bag on the opening day at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
The 23 year old also started on the back nine, and suffered an early blow with a double bogey at the 11th.
Four birdies approaching the turn were then followed by two bogeys on the way in as Dunne put himself inside the top ten with a level par score.
Lewis had fired an opening 65 to lead the 2011 Open Championship at St George’s and won on only his third start as a professional in Portugal, but was outside the top 110 on last season’s Race to Dubai and is looking to regain full playing rights.
