PERTH, Australia (AP) — Needing a win to retain his European Tour card, Peter Hedblom started in cool, calm fashion Thursday by shooting a 4-under 68 for a share of the lead with Jin Jeong of South Korea and two Australians after the first round of the Perth International.
The 43-year-old Swede had six birdies and two bogeys, and said “you have nothing to hold back. You have to go for everything. The game didn’t feel that good, but I kept the ball in the fairways.”
Hedblom, Jeong and Australians James Nitties and Clint Rice have a one-stroke buffer over a group of eight players including Dustin Johnson, European Tour players Sam Little and Bjorn Akesson and Australia’s Nick O’Hern.
Defending champion Bo van Pelt was a stroke further behind.