Three pairs sit tied top of the leaderboard after an action-packed opening day in the 2023 Golfbreaks PGA Fourball Championship at Carden Park.
A total of 144 players started on day one of the popular 54-hole pairs event with a cut coming after 36 holes and the top 24 pairs plus ties playing the third and final round on Friday.
Adam Keogh (Woodhall Spa Golf Club) and James Freeman (Retford Golf Club) took an early lead, scoring seven-under-par through seven holes. They went on to finish the day on 10-under-par to hold a share of the lead.
“I went first on every hole and tried to at least get one in play and take the pressure off, so Adam could go for it - we got off to a good start so it seemed to work,” said Freeman.
Freeman’s highlights included their eagle on the par 5 sixth hole, which had been preceded by a trio of birdies. He continued: “That gave us some impetus to take through onto the 9th, which is a tough hole. When you get off to such a good start, you try to carry it on but it’s not as easy as that round here, so we were pretty happy with that.
“Obviously it’s a good start but there’s another 36 holes to go so we’re not taking anything for granted - it’s a new day tomorrow so we’ll just go out and start again really.”
Keogh said the players have taken to the challenge of the Cheshire course this week, adding: “It’s my first time playing the Cheshire Course - the front and back nines are almost polar opposites, they’ve both got their own challenges and we’ve just got to do the best we can and face the challenges head on.
“We had a little bit of a different strategy this year - we’ve tried to have a little bit more fun with the game rather than being too serious or putting too much emphasis on a particular round, shot or hole, so just having a good time and that generally works in golf!
“The thing is in this format, it changes so quickly - the scoring gets heavy, so you’ve just got to keep going.”
Keogh and Freeman are tied at the top with Glen Portelli (Old Fold Manor Golf Club) and Robert Daw (Royal Ascot Golf Club) who joined the leaders on 10-under-par, with an eagle on the par 4 fourth hole standing out for the pair.
James Ruth (James Ruth Golf Coaching) and Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge Golf Club) complete the leading trio, with an eagle on the par 5 fourteenth a highlight.
Elsewhere, Ian Dudman (Premier Licensing Ltd) scored a hole-in-one on the par 3 first hole. He and playing partner Reece Balls (Wentworth Club) finished their round on 1-under-par for the day.
