American rookie Ryggs Johnston enjoyed his first taste of Kingston Heath Golf Club as he fired a stunning 65 on day one of the 2025 ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
The DP World Tour Qualifying School graduate arrived in Melbourne on Monday fresh from finishing in a tie for 43rd at last week's BMW Australian PGA Championship.
The 24-year-old then played this week's other host course, Victoria Golf Club, on Tuesday and had planned a practice round at Kingston Heath on Wednesday before the weather intervened.
But despite going into Thursday's opening round 'pretty much blind', Johnston carded eight birdies - including five in a row from the 12th - and a single bogey to reach seven under par and sit one shot off the lead.
Johnston said: "Pretty much went out onto the course blind today, didn’t get a practice round, so 65 is a good number.
"I got in Monday afternoon, played Victoria Tuesday. Was going to play here yesterday afternoon but the weather ended up ruining that.
"I hit it pretty good, made some good putts, and just played solid throughout the round.
"Took advantage of the easier holes and got on a little heater on the back nine, made five in a row. That helped a lot. Just an all-round good round."
Countryman Jordan Gumberg also went into the opening day without a practice round and shot a flawless 65 at Victoria.
He said: "I didn’t even get a practice round here yesterday so I was seeing the course pretty blind. I walked nine holes this morning and my caddie walked the other nine, we kind of pieced together our notes.
"It was honestly refreshing to play kind of blind. You don’t really know where the trouble is, where you can’t be. So you’re just looking at targets and staring them down. This course is phenomenal. Both courses are great, you couldn’t ask to play on a better golf course for a tournament.
"I was walking around (before the round) trying to see some things, maybe see some slopes that you couldn’t see from the fairways. I still missed a few out there. I wish we were coming back here tomorrow, but we’re not."
