Two late bogeys hasn't been able to stop Queenslander Louis Dobbelaar from taking a one-stroke lead after a rain-affected opening day at the PNG Open.
The tournament, part of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, kicked off at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club on Thursday morning. PNG Prime Minister James Marape hit the ceremonial first tee shot, but Mother Nature governed proceedings in the afternoon, with a late downpour forcing play to be suspended for the day.
Early Friday morning will see 27 players return to complete their first round.
Dobbelaar was seven under through 11 holes, before bogeys at 12 and 13 saw him post a five-under 67.
The 24-year-old, who turns 25 on August 31, will start his second round one shot clear of defending champion Cory Crawford (Tasmania), Victorian James Marchesani and fellow Queenslanders Will Florimo and Taj Egea.
Dobbelaar is trying to recapture the form that saw him claim the 2023 New Zealand PGA Championship.
"It’d be good to get off to a good start this season" said Dobbelaar, who has won four times on the PGA Pro-Am Series since May.
"I’ve got some good goals for the year, so it’d be nice to kick off the year with a really good one."
Royal Port Moresby Golf Club member Gideon Tikili was just two strokes off the lead after a three-under 69. Tikili has already played his national open five times, but this is his first start as a professional.
"I’m satisfied. I wouldn’t say not too happy or not too angry, just neutral," said the world No.5016.
"I tried to be patient, not to panic when I get a bogey, so something that I worked on."
The event features 22 winners on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, alongside 21 PNG professional and amateur golfers in the 120-strong field.
This weekend will also feature the PNG Women’s Open, where five locals will join nine members of the WPGA Tour of Australasia for a 36-hole event.
