O'Hern finds form at right time

Updated October 12, 2012 14:36:26

Aussie Nick O'Hern equalled the course record by shooting a 9-under 62 to take a three-shot lead after the opening round of the $5 million PGA Tour event in San Jose on Friday (AET).

O'Hern, who will turn 41 next week, had eight birdies in an 11-hole stretch and capped the bogey-free round on the CordeValle club course with a birdie on the par-five ninth hole.

"I just hit the ball lovely all day, was able to hit it close," O'Hern said.

"I started off having to make a few par putts, crucial ones, sort of four- five-footers.

"Once I made those, it got me going. Then I made a few birdies on the front nine, which was my back nine."

The Western Australian is winless on the USPGA Tour and has a three-stroke lead over European Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts, Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela, and American Derek Ernst.

Charles Howell, John Mallinger, Jonas Blixt, Gary Woodland and Greg Owen all shot 66. British Open champion Ernie Els opened with a 71 in the Fall Series event.

The event is one of four season-ending PGA Tour events aimed mainly at players trying to crack the top 125 on the tour money winners list to keep their playing rights for next year.

It was the lowest round of the year for O'Hern and it could not have come at a better time.

O'Hern came into the week 144th on the money list after just one top 10 finish in 23 starts this year. He has missed the cut in five of his past seven starts.

"I know I've got my work cut out as far as the money list goes," O'Hern said.

"I know what I need to do. I need to play good golf. I've been doing that, I just haven't had the results unfortunately.

"Today is a perfect start to what I need to do."

He hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation and needed just 23 putts in the first round.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states, australia

First posted October 12, 2012 14:36:26

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O'Hern shares Memphis lead

Updated June 10, 2012 11:22:46

Australia's Nick O'Hern grabbed a share of the lead heading into the final round of the St Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.

O'Hern birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th holes in his third round to fire a 3-under-par 67 to be tied for the lead at 6-under alongside American duo Davis Love and John Merrick.

Another Australian Robert Allenby is only a stroke off the leading trio, having moved into a six-way share of fourth place following his round of 67.

Reigning US Open champion Rory McIlroy is amongst that group, having struggled to a 2-over 72 to fall from the lead.

McIlroy, ranked second in the world, led by a stroke when the day began after an impressive 65 in the second round but made six bogeys against four birdies.

"It was a very testing day with the conditions," he said. "I definitely didn't feel as comfortable with my game as I did yesterday.

"So, you know, it was a good experience for me just to try and do what I've been working on in my swing and under real competitive pressure.

"For the most part, I held up pretty well. Few missed shots out there. I'm only one off the lead and still in a good position."

McIlroy will defend his US Open title in San Francisco next week.

AFP/ABC

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted June 10, 2012 11:22:46

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O'Hern fourth at McGladrey

Updated October 15, 2011 11:01:00

Australia's Nick O'Hern is tied for fourth - four shots off the lead - after two rounds of the McGladrey golf classic in Georgia.

He has fired a second round of 67 - to be 8-under-par 132 at the halfway mark - behind Americans Billy Horschel (128) and Webb Simpson and Michael Thompson (both 130).

Fellow Australian Robert Allenby is six strokes adrift of O'Hern.

But little-known Horschel grabbed the limelight after charging into a two-shot lead at Sea Island.

The former Walker Cup amateur eagled the par-5 15th on the way to a sizzling 6-under 64, sinking a three-foot birdie putt at the last to post a 12-under total of 128.

In hot pursuit, though, after carding a 67 was Simpson, who has won twice in his last five starts and has a chance to beat British world number one Luke Donald to the PGA tour money title.

"I've played great this year," Simpson told reporters after ending a breezy day at the Seaside Course on 10-under.

"Hopefully I can make a little dent in the (money list) gap this week."

Simpson trails Donald by $68,971 and both of them are scheduled to compete in next week's season-ending Disney Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

"It was a really tough day starting out," Simpson said of a round which included four birdies and a lone bogey.

"The wind was blowing pretty hard and we had really difficult holes to start.

"But I hung in there ... and made a couple of nice birdies coming in."

South African Louis Oosthuizen, who romped to a seven-stroke victory in last year's British Open, fired a 67 to end the second round at 8-under, alongside O'Hern.

The cut fell at 1-under 139 with last year's US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland and former major winners Vijay Singh, Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard and David Toms among those failing to advance.

Australia's Matt Jones, Rod Pampling, Michael Sim, Marc Leishman, Nathan Green, Steven Bowditch and Jarrod Lyle also missed the cut.

AAP/Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted October 15, 2011 10:41:28

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