MARC Leishman is well placed after his opening round at the Australian PGA Championship on the Sunshine Coast.
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The Warrnambool professional carded a three-under 69 to be three off the pace, set by Scott Strange, who had a 66 around the challenging Coolum resort course.
Leishman surged towards the top of the leaderboard late in his first round at four under par after 16 holes, two behind a group of players at six-under, before he stumbled with a bogey on his 17th hole, the par-three eighth.
The 29-year-old had made three birdies in four holes.
Earlier we reported he had birdied the par-four fourth hole to be two-under after 13 holes, four off the pace set by China's Zhang Xin Jun, who is six-under after 15 holes.
Starting on the 10th, Leishman was even par through nine holes, but a birdie on the par-five first has taken him to one-under. He is five-behind the pace being set by Victorian Ashley Hall, who is six-under after 12 holes.
Former winner Greg Norman has withdrawn from the tournament after two holes because of food poisoning.
More updates to come.