Barnes takes first-round lead
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand -- Australia's Kurt Barnes shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the New Zealand PGA Championship.
The long-hitting Barnes had an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey on the Bob Charles-designed Clearwater course. Australia's Ryan Hammond opened with a 65. Hammond birdied nine of the first 14 holes, including six in a row, but bogeyed 15 and 17.
Americans Jason Enloe and David Branshaw opened with 66s in the event sanctioned by the Australasian and Nationwide tours. Americans Josh Teater, Major Manning, Scott Dunlap were three strokes back at 67 along with New Zealand's Gareth Paddison, Australians Alistair Presnell and Andre Stolz and Sweden's Jonas Blixt.
Presnell is coming off a victory Sunday in the Moonah Classic.
Danny Lee, the New Zealand amateur star who won Johnnie Walker Classic two weeks ago, opened with a 71. The 18-year-old Lee, also the U.S. Amateur champion, plans to turn pro after the Masters. Born in South Korea, he moved to New Zealand at age 8.
Barnes had a chance to tie the course record, but his 20-foot birdie try on the final hole slid past the cup. He rebounded after missing the cut last week in the Moonah Classic in Australia.
"I've been playing well the last few months but been running into trouble with the flat stick," Barnes said. "I changed putters after last week at Moonah, made a phone call to my old swing coach and got my short game on track.
"It was an eight-minute phone call that I probably should have made eight months ago ... He told me what he thought I needed to do to get back to the way I was putting and it certainly worked today."
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
