Players were given special dispensation to use carts as the mercury topped 40 degrees during a sweltering opening day of the Webex Players Series Murray River event on Thursday.
With temperatures likely to even exceed the first round heatwave across the next two days, PGA of Australia officials took the unusual step in allowing all competitors to use a motorised vehicle as the scoring matched the temperatures at Cobram Barooga.
It’s not completely foreign for carts to be seen in tournament golf – the PGA Tour Champions allows it for its membership which is 50 or older in the United States – but it’s a rarity to see it used in unrestricted events.
But the carts zoomed around the idyllic course near the NSW-Victorian border as players battled the extreme conditions.
“It’s different but you’ve just got to prepare, drink plenty of water,” said veteran Andrew Martin, who posted an eight-under 63 in his opening round.
“You just couldn’t walk in that I don’t think. Even standing on the tees, it was just coming up underneath (you). Trying to walk in that would have been tough. I think they’ve done a really good job.”
Haydn Barron thrived in the horrific afternoon conditions to post a nine-under 62, which included two eagles in his first six holes using a nine-iron and seven-iron to hit the green with his approach shots given how far his drives were flying.
The West Australian has been a model of consistency on the Australasian tour in recent seasons, but is still chasing his first win in a professional world rankings event.
“It was just another day in WA out there,” Barron joked. “Hot, little bit of wind the last eight to 10 holes and I’d like to think the Freo Doctor has made its way to Cobram.
“The carts were a great asset, but I enjoy the heat. It’s going so far out there, especially at the height I hit, I’m getting a fair bit more out of my clubs. It’s playing a fair bit shorter and you can be more aggressive.”
Josh Armstrong (-8) joined Martin one shot back with Jake McLeod, Doug Klein, Declan O’Donovan and Nathan Page all firing seven-under 64s.
“I think (Friday) in the heat, I’ll like it a bit more,” Armstrong said. “This morning was actually quite nice. It was pretty cool. It was different for sure, but I thought I did a good job with that. It’s sort of different driving to your playing partner’s ball and waiting here and there.”
Order of merit leader and Vic Open champion Cameron John is lurking ominously at six-under.
