Strange Ties the Course Record in Melbourne

U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange shot a 7-under-par 65 today to tie the course record and grab a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Australian Open championship.

Strange carded two eagles, five birdies and two bogeys on the par-72, 6,847-yard Kingston Heath course to tie the record set by Gary Player in 1970 and tied by Ronan Rafferty of Northern Ireland.

“A course record is very nice, but it doesn’t mean you have the tournament won,” Strange said.

“I’m very pleased. It’s always nice to get off to a good start. I drove well today and made some nice putts.”

The highlight of Strange’s round came when he sank a 9-iron from 140 yards for an eagle at the 365 yards par-4 second hole.

Australian PGA champion Peter Senior and three of his compatriots, Lucien Tinkler, Brett Ogle and Jeff Woodland, had rounds of 66 to keep the pressure on Strange.

British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia was one shot further back at 67, tied with Australians Tony Wolsey and Steven Bann, after beginning a roller-coaster round with a bogey at the first hole.

He had two other bogeys on his card but also shot eight birdies, including five in six holes from the fourth to the ninth.

Masters champion Nick Faldo of Britain was three shots off the lead after a 68, four better than three-time champion Greg Norman, who had a disastrous triple-bogey in his round of 72.

Defending champion Calcavecchia was angered by slow play in near-perfect conditions.

Many players took more than five hours to complete the 18 holes.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Calcavecchia said. “If it had been windy, it would have taken six hours.