Golf: Dufner masters wind to lead championship

Jason Dufner's parents must have privately been delighted when their son stumbled upon golf in his teens to add some excitement to his life.

The American cut a colourful figure at Clearwater Resort yesterday when he defied buffeting southerly winds to shoot five-under 67 and claim the first-round lead in the $922,083 New Zealand PGA Championship.

Dufner, 28, and a one-time winner on the second-tier Nationwide Tour in the US, is a curiosity in that none of his declared special interests - among them sleeping, reading, darts and bubble hockey - threaten to get pulse rates racing.

While some may argue golf was a perfect fit, Dufner's discovery of the game at the age of 15 led to a promising career which has earned him close to US$900,000 ($1.36 million) and in 2004 led him to the PGA Tour.

He promptly lost his card again but yesterday showed signs of a man in control after a fierce early morning hailstorm stalled play for two hours.

Dufner was just two holes into his round at that stage and later returned to help himself to seven birdies - the last on his 18th, the par-three ninth, when his six iron came to rest less than half a metre from the hole.

It left him the clubhouse leader by mid-afternoon, and he remained there in the early evening, three strokes ahead of his nearest rivals, fellow American Chris Tidland and New Zealand left-hander Gareth Paddison.

The next best were Australians James Nitties and Andrew Johnston with matching 71s, followed by a group of six on 72, among them New Zealander Michael Long, who led the tournament at four-under after 11 holes before a triple bogey seven saw him tumble backwards at some speed.

Also on 72 were Australian veteran Peter Senior, his young compatriot Michael Sim, American duo Keoke Cotner and Tom Gillis, plus another Australian in Paul Marantz. America-based New Zealand Steve Alker was among a group of nine on 74, among them his fellow countryman Stephen Scahill.

Dufner admitted to relief when his round ended, suggesting the strong winds had made the players' task a lolly scramble of options.

At some points, such as the 157m par-three fourth which played directly into the wind, Dufner considered the conditions equated to a difference of four clubs.

"You really had to think out there today about where to place the ball and how to make par, as opposed to attacking and making a lot of birdies. You had to let the birdies happen."

Paddison, 25, who has failed to kick on after a promising start to his pro career in 2001, was delighted with his score, which was probably worth three shots less under normal conditions.

- NZPA