Golf: Baddeley's blitz scorches rivals

Aaron Baddeley confirmed he is the most promising Australian golfer to emerge since Greg Norman by blasting his way to a five-shot lead in the first round of the $A1.5 million ($1.83 million) ANZ Championship in Sydney yesterday.

The rest of the field at the Concord Golf Club could only look on in wonderment as the 19-year-old Victorian shot an outstanding nine-under-par 62.

Barring a major collapse over the next three days, Baddeley will win the Australasian PGA Tour order of merit title, leaving New Zealanders Michael Campbell and David Smail battling to hold on to second and third place.

Five players tied for second place on four-under were all Australians - James McLean, Andrew Tschudin, Peter Lonard, Stephen Leaney and Steven Conran.

Michael Long was the best of 13 New Zealanders on three-under in a disappointing day for the New Zealand contingent.

Long posted the best score of the afternoon half of the field which encountered stiff winds.

Smail was a shot back in a tie for 15th on two-under, and an unhappy Campbell could manage only a four-over 75. He was one of several New Zealanders who will need major turnarounds to make the cut at the end of the second round.

At the other end of the field, Baddeley's form matched the hot temperatures of the morning and put him on line to add this tournament to the Australian Open and Greg Norman Holden International titles he has claimed this summer.

"I was pretty solid out there, I didn't do a lot wrong," he said.

"Any time you get nine-under you've done pretty well.

"It's a good position to be in. I like leading.

"That's what you practise for, to get your technique right so when you're in this position in a golf tournament you can rely on it.

"I'm looking forward to hopefully staying on top for the next three days and having another win to end the year."

Baddeley needed only 24 putts. That was helped by an eagle on the par-four sixth when a 84m sand iron from the fairway found the cup.

He also shot eight birdies.

Campbell would not concede defeat in the order of merit race, even though he was 13 shots behind Baddeley and needs to win the tournament to defend his money-winning crown.

"It obviously wasn't the kind of round I was after," Campbell said.

"There's a bit of work to do in the next few days - my putting was horrendous today.

"But anything's possible. He could shoot the score I shot today and vice versa so you never know."

Smail is desperate to remain third in the order of merit which would earn him a start in the British Open and an exemption to the United States PGA Tour qualifying school.

"Two-under was a good score in the end but I played terribly today," he said.

"I really struggled with the driver. I started off all right but there were a few hooks and I just never got going after that.

"I wasn't very focused, I was worried about where I was going to go."

Smail was a playing partner of Baddeley's.

"Situations like that make you feel like an idiot. I was impressed with the way he played; it was pretty awesome."

Of the other New Zealanders, Richard Lee shot 70, Paul Devenport and Steve Alker one-over 72, Martin Pettigrew 76, Greg Turner 77, Mark Brown 78 and Grant Moorhead a 10-over 81.

- NZPA