Australian PGA rookie Zach Murray has turned in the best round of his fledgling professional career to take a clubhouse lead on the opening day of the 100th NZ Open in Queenstown.<\/p>\n
Murray shot a flawless round of 63 which included eight birdies – his round so hot that the scorers\u2019 room had to be evacuated after smoke alarms at Millbrook went off and the Fire Service arrived.<\/p>\n
It was a stark contrast to Murray\u2019s mid-morning start on a chilly Central Otago day which featured fresh snow on the Remarkables, the affable Victorian unable to find a thermal top in the Millbrook pro shop which would fit him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a strange warm up for me. I hit about five balls and I was like \u2018I\u2019m not going to get warm\u2019, and so I just sat in the pro shop and waited until the sun came out, hit a couple of putts and off I went,\u201d Murray said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do that back at home when I\u2019m just playing with my mates so I suppose I might have to do that more often.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murray turned professional in November for the Australian Open and finished fourth at Asian Q School, carrying his good form across the Tasman for his first trip to Queenstown.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s probably a credit to the VIS and Golf Australia, and the PGA in Australia as well for allowing me to play a number of professional events before I turned pro,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was pretty steady, I didn\u2019t miss too many fairways and I don\u2019t think I missed a green. It was pretty straightforward, I putted well and everything just sort of clicked and I got a lucky bounce here and there where I needed it. Sometimes those rounds just pop up at the right time and it was fortunate enough that it happened here.\u201d<\/p>\n
His opening round was also a nice birthday present for his father.<\/p>\n
\u201c(It\u2019s) Dad\u2019s birthday today. He messaged me last night and said 65 would be nice, considering he was born in \u201865, so I added a couple of years onto him today with a 63. I spoke to him quickly just before and he said he doesn\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murray was planning on spending a relaxed afternoon before shifting his focus to The Hills for the second round tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love both tracks, I felt as though The Hills suited me a little bit more so it will be interesting to see how I go tomorrow. I haven\u2019t been driving it well lately and that\u2019s what\u2019s been letting me down but I drove it well today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the lowest round I\u2019ve shot as a professional, I\u2019ve had 61 on my home course as an amateur, but this would be one of the best rounds I\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/article>\n
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Australian PGA rookie Zach Murray has turned in the best round of his fledgling professional career to take a clubhouse lead on the opening day of the 100th NZ Open in Queenstown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"