Better day for Ferguson

Australia’s Mike Ferguson enjoyed a signficant upturn in his fortunes when he fired a five-under 66 to open a one-shot lead after the first round of the De Vere PGA Seniors Championship over the Nicklaus course at the De Vere Carden Park resort in Cheshire.

Ferguson, 50, a rookie Seniors Tour professional from Brisbane, and the brother-in-law of the late US Open champion, Payne Stewart, started well with rounds of 72 and 71 at last week’s Senior British Open in Northern Ireland but then had to disqualify himself after realising he had signed for a wrong score in his second round.

Today, however, there were no such mishaps. Instead, he recorded a total of five birdies in a flawless round that left him one shot ahead of England’s Tony Allen, Northern Ireland’s David Jones and two other Australians, David Good and Noel Ratcliffe.

On a good day for the strong Australian contingent, big-hitting Geoff Parslow was tied for sixth place place alongside Scotland’s John Chillas on 68 and Brian Jones shared eighth place with America’s Bill Brask, England’s Denis Durnian, Ireland’s Liam Higgins and Welshman Craig Defoy on 69.

Ferguson put his troubles in Northern Ireland behind him when went out in two under par 34 and then stormed home in 32 with birdies on the 10th, 12th, 15th and 18th holes.

"It’s great to get a good round under my belt after what happened last week," said the Australian.

"I didn’t realise I had made a mistake until I was going through my round later that evening so it meant I had to go back to the tournament office the next morning and DQ myself."