South African rookie Zander Lombard held a two-shot lead over England's Mark Foster after the opening round of the European Tour co-sanctioned Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast Thursday. Lombard fired five birdies in an unblemished five-under 67 to lead Foster at the Royal Pines resort. Only four other golfers finished their rounds in the red as players encountered buffeting winds and morning rain. Seven-time US PGA Tour winner Brandt Snedeker crashed to a nightmare opening round of 12-over 84, which left him 17 strokes adrift of the lead and facing a huge battle to make Friday's cut. Snedeker finished with eight bogeys, a double and a triple. "I wish I could put a spin on it," said Snedeker, the highest-ranked player in the field. "The conditions were tough and when you're not firing on all cylinders and the wind is blowing the way it did out here, your mistakes are going to be exacerbated - mine were." By the time Lombard teed off, the wind had died down slightly. The 20-year-old — who only turned pro this year — was able to hold his nerve and managed to complete his round without a bogey. "It was definitely one of my most-professional rounds (in my career)," said Lombard, one of 24 players at the tournament from South Africa's Sunshine Tour. Foster, whose only win on the European Tour came 13 years ago, holed seven birdies and four bogeys. Day withdraws from Shootout Defending co-champion Jason Day of Australia has withdrawn from next week's Franklin Templeton Shootout, and will be replaced by American Chris Kirk in the pairs event, organizers announced. Day and American Cameron Tringale won the 12-team event last year at Tiburon Golf Club, then went on to capture his first major title this year at the PGA Championship. Day's wife Ellie gave birth to their second child last month, and the Aussie will stay home with new daughter Lucy. He has not played since the Presidents Cup in South Korea in early October. The Dec. 10-12 tournament will see Tringale and 41st-ranked Kirk tested by the duos of Harris English-Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson-Patrick Rodgers, Graeme McDowell-Gary Woodland, Daniel Berger-Charley Hoffman, Billy Horschel-Hunter Mahan, Sean O'Hair-Mike Weir, J.B. Holmes-Patrick Reed, Retief Goosen-Danny Lee, Kenny Perry-Steve Stricker, Charles Howell-Rory Sabbatini and Jason Dufner-Brandt Snedeker. The Shootout again will feature a different format during each of the three competitive rounds: scramble (Thursday), modified alternate shot (Friday) and better ball (Saturday).
