Newcomer Ryan Gates made an emphatic statement to open his golf career as a Nationwide Tour player in style at the New Zealand Open today.
The tall Texan marked his first round in the tour ranks with a seven-under-par 65 to share the first round lead at The Hills with New Zealander David Smail and Australian Andrew Dodt.
Gates, 24, clambered aboard the Nationwide circuit via PGA Tour qualifying school at the end of last year following a season honing his game on the Canadian Tour.
He has ventured south to New Zealand and Australia, for next week's Moonah Classic, eager to prove himself and he could not have hoped for a better beginning.
"I felt in control out there and the ball went where I wanted it to go," he said after a round he began by slotting an eagle three on the first hole.
"The greens were what I'd call spongy and it took a few holes to get used to playing for a big bounce."
He adapted his game quickly, though, with another two birdies on the outward nine, either side of one of two bogeys to litter his card.
The back side of the 6610m course rewarded him with another five birdies, including three in succession from the 16th.
He came close to a hole-in-one at the par-three 16th before accepting the tap in, reached the par-five 17th in two and two-putted, then drained a 30-footer at the last to leave him feeling as if he truly belongs among the Nationwide ranks.
"I was really excited to come down here because it's a great opportunity for me," Gates said.
"I had a lot of fun, but I feel as if I left a lot of opportunities out there."
