Three lead #NTPGA charge

Tim Hart shares the lead after the opening round of the NT PGA. (Image: PGA of Australia)

Three Queenslanders benefit from a first round at the Tailor-made Building Services NT PGA Championship.

Kade McBride, Tim Hart and Brett Rankin all finished with a 6-under 65 on a stormy Palmerstone golf course.

McBride, 24, followed a master class in the morning field and catapulted in championship competition with three birdies from the first four holes.

A bogeyman on the 16th was his only stain for the day. McBride said he was happy to withstand the wild conditions that traumatized much of the field.

“I'm just going outside to do a job. You have to go there and deviate from your plan, "McBride said.

"There will be times when you have to adjust to do your shopping, but I am confident that I can adapt to most situations.

"The wind is very swirly. When we started on the 10th hole, we played directly against the wind. When we were done on the 18th, the wind pushed over the 10th.

"When I come in here, I have a very nice run. I feel fresh. It is a nice round to build on."

Hart & # 39; s first attempt puts him in a strong position to secure an elusive virgin ISPS HANDA PGA Tour or Australasia title.

He said he was satisfied with his short game, nailing crucial putts to the hard to read greens.

"I checked my game well under the circumstances and drilled a few putts when needed," Hart said.

"It has been light throughout the day. I am not sure if it will last the rest of the game, but I think the score (6-bottom) will come pretty close to the top of the rankings."

Rankin assured an 18th hole birdie to join his fellow statesman on top of the leaderboard. A few eight bogeys – one on the 14th and another on the 16th that caused problems – threatened to derail his strong start.

“It was a good start to start. I recently played well in the Pro-Ams. I was nothing special. I've kept it simple.

“I have been coming here for 10 years now and I think the organizers have done great with the course. It is the best it has ever seen. "

Local favorite Aaron Pike is in fourth place at 5-under 66. It is a start that he knows for sure that he can build on.

"I didn't do much wrong today. There were a few shots, but I stuck to it. I wouldn't say it was an exciting game to watch.

“I was happy to keep the ball in play. You have to hit really good shots. In these circumstances it is important to set yourself up. "

The afternoon field has gone to the Palmerston Golf Course where players will try to improve the scores of Rankin, Hart and McBride.

The second round will resume tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM. In addition to the winner's share in the $ 150,000 prize pool, the champion receives official World Golf Ranking Points and is fully exempted from the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour through Australia until the end of the 2020 season.