NEIL Cheetham defied a strong, gusting wind to blow away the rest of a big field in the first round of the Phoenix Gas Classic at Cheshire resort Wychwood Park.
With only a handful of players beating the par of 72, the Dore & Totley tournament professional stormed to a six-under 66 to lead by three Aran Wainwright.
“I just stayed in his slipstream,” said his playing partner from the Mid Yorkshire club who handed in a bogey-free card.
Cheetham erred only once when he failed to get up and down from the back of the 15th green but by then had already racked up an eagle and four of his five birdies.
“My game was solid. I hit a few accurate two irons which was sensible in the wind and putted well,” said the 2009 PGA North Region champion and Order of Merit winner who is on a two month break from playing the South African Sunshine Tour.
“I’m having a great season over there and I regard playing at home as a bit of a holiday but it also keeps my game sharp. I have some big events I need to do well in when I return.”
Cheetham revealed that he will attend the European Tour School at the end of the year in an attempt to regain the card he lost in 2006 when he sustained an injury which kept him sidelined for 18 months.
“It’s taken until now get my game back to the level I need it to be at,” he added.
And eagle at the first got him off to a flying start as he reached the turn in four-under 32, pitching in from form the greenside fringe for a birdie at the 10th.
Fifty players had the cut on 74 or better.
FIRST ROUND LEADERS (Par=72): 66 Neil Cheetham (Dore & Totley); 69 Aran Wainwright (Mid Yorks); 70 David Corsby (Fleetwood), Grant Hamerton (Brookdale), Mark Ramsden (Bondhay), David Smith (Swinton Park); 71 Jason O’Brien (Widnes), Richard Pace (Hornsea), Alan Laing (Mount Murray), Barry Taylor (Houghwood).
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