Golf: Keeping it in the family works a charm for Dodt

Andrew Dodt. Photo / Getty Images

Not everybody would be comfortable taking advice from their father-in-law during a round of golf.

But it seems to work just fine for Australian Andrew Dodt, who shared the lead after one round of the New Zealand Open in Queenstown with his father-in-law Brett Odgers as his caddy.

Dodt, a former European Tour professional, enjoys playing in this part of the world after his 2010 appearance at The Hills New Zealand Open when he finished runner-up to Bobby Gates.

This year, the new-look Open has a pro-am format and sees players take on a round at The Hills and the nearby Millbrook Resort before the final two rounds are played at The Hills during the weekend.

Dodt opened the tournament at Millbrook yesterday and fired a six-under 66 to sit atop the leaderboard, alongside countrymen Jake Stirling, Scott Strange and Terry Pilkadaris.

"I had my father-in-law caddy for me four years ago and he's caddying for me again, so there's maybe a lucky charm there," Dodt said.

The 28-year-old only holds limited status in Europe now and will play mostly on the Asian Tour this year.

He put his strong opening round down to his ability to make his putts. "I didn't really hole too many long ones," he said. "I just hit it close enough and holed the ones I should make."

As the weather could be a factor with showers forecast today, it was good to have a low score on the board. "If the weather is pretty ordinary, a good round makes up for that."

APNZ