Kiwi ace golfer struggles in the wet

Fairfax Media

TRYING ROUND: Young New Zealand golfer Danny Lee has had a rough opening round in his second PGA Tour event in New York.

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New Zealand golfing prodigy Danny Lee has struggled in tricky conditions in the opening round of the Turning Stone Resort Championship in Verona, New York.

Lee hit two birdies and a bogey on the front nine, but added another four bogeys on the back.  

The 18-year-old US Amateur champion joined Davis Love III in shooting three-over-par round of 75 - seven strokes behind clubhouse leader Jeff Overton of the US.

Sharing second place were Australian Steve Allan and American Michael Allen after 68s, with Australian Jason Day, Carlos Franco of Paraguay and American Tag Ridings a further shot adrift in a tie for fourth.

"It's great to be inside finally," Overton, 25, told reporters after his tour of the 7,482-yard Atunyote Golf Club course that had intermittent rain, steady wind and temperatures of just 7 degrees Celsius. "It's a little warmer in here.

"I just hit a lot of great drives more than anything. The golf course is playing so long and wet I was able to take advantage of my length today."

Seven players were tied for seventh at two-under-par 70.

Starting from the 10th, Overton bogeyed his fourth hole before finding his stride from the 15th.

He birdied four of the next five holes and then took advantage of some late day sunshine to add two more birdies for his 67.

"My last six holes or so it definitely played a little bit easier," said the Indiana native, whose only top-10 of the year came with a tie for ninth at the AT&T National. "I think it was my 14th hole or so, the sun just had come out."

Allan, another big-hitter who tied for fourth at the Viking Classic that opened the US PGA Tour's seven-event Fall Series, warmed up after an unlikely birdie at the 15th, where he hit his tee shot into the trees.

"Had a go at getting it through the tree, which got it on the green, and then holed a 60- or 70-footer or something, which was the first birdie of day," the 34-year-old Australian said. "Kind of got me going."

Defending champion Steve Flesch posted a two-over-par 74

-Reuters