• Australian PGA Championship, Round One

Choi stuns field at Australian PGA

ESPN staff
November 24, 2011

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Joon-woo Choi took a surprise lead at the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum on Thursday with a brilliant round of 66.

The Korean went to the top of the leaderboard at six-under after the first round, and his fortunes could have been greater had he not bogeyed the eighth and 13th holes. Choi, though, claimed a share of the lead with an eagle on the par-four 16th before his sixth birdie of the day at the 18th saw him move clear of the field, until Steven Bowditch claimed a share of the lead late on.

Bubba Watson sits one shot back courtesy of a near-flawless round of 67. The American is joined in second place by Australians Aaron Townsend, Andre Stolz and Aaron Baddeley.

China's Kang Chun Wu leads a large group of players, including New Zealander Josh Geary, in a tie for seventh place on four-under. While Adam Scott's inconsistent Presidents Cup form continued in a round which included nine birdies, two bogeys and two double-bogeys to leave him a further two strokes back alongside American starlet Rickie Fowler.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke kept himself in contention with a three-under 69 on the opening day. However, consecutive bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes spoiled an otherwise excellent round.

Greg Chalmers was unable to replicate his Australian Open winning form as he carded a one-under 71. The highlight of the veteran's round coming with a spectacular hole-in-one at the par-three second hole.

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