Lars van Meijel did not get off to a good start in Australia during the Fortinet Australia PGA Championship in Brisbane, with an opening round of 75 strokes (+4). His play currently places him in 141st place, equal with Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and others. It was a triple bogey on the 18th that dropped him dramatically in the world rankings. The 29-year-old Dutchman made three birdies and four bogeys in his round.
However, 25-year-old Spaniard Joel Muscatel thrived amidst the tough golf course and conditions. With an impressive round of 63 strokes (-8), he currently leads the tournament. Muscatel even set a new course record, and his professional debut on the DP World Tour was a triumphant start. He now holds a one-stroke lead over home favorite Min Woo Lee after an impressive bogey-free round at the Royal Queensland Golf Club.
Adam Scott, another Australian hope, started strongly at 5 under, while pole Adrien Mironk and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello started at 3 under respectively.
Modest about his achievement, Muscatel himself commented: “I didn’t even know I was going to equal the record; we were just playing golf and it was great to reach that milestone today.
Muscatel previously lost his full DP World Tour rights when he remained one stroke out of place during qualifying school, finishing 34th as a 13-year-old.
