BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) — Spaniard Joel Moscatel Nachshon fired a remarkable eight-under-par 63 on his DP World Tour debut Thursday to lead the Australian PGA Championship, but defending champion Cameron Smith had a round to forget.
In front of big galleries at the Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane, the 25-year-old equaled the course record to take a one-shot lead after the first round from Australian rising star Min Woo Lee.
Ranked 1,162 in the world, Nachshon fired eight birdies, including five in a row, at the opening event of the European circuit’s 2024 season.
“I just got into the rhythm,” said Nachshon, who was playing at the tour’s qualifying school in Spain a week ago. “But tomorrow is a new day, I just have to do my work and try to enjoy it as much as possible.”
Lee was the early clubhouse leader after eight birdies and one bogey in his 64.
“I felt like I didn’t leave much out there and it was a very solid round,” said Lee, who has secured 2024 playing rights on the US PGA Tour.
“I putted and chipped really nicely, and then drove it really good.”
