PERTH, Australia — Brett Rumford and Mark Foster shot 6-under 66s Thursday to lead after the first round of the World Super 6 golf tournament at Lake Karrinyup, with 10 others a stroke off the lead of the European Tour event.
"No stretches of brilliance, just a consistent round of golf," the 39-year-old Rumford said.
The tournament, also sanctioned by the Australian and Asian tours, will feature three days of stroke play before switching to a match-play format in the final round when the top 24 golfers will play a series of six-hole knockout duels.
Robert Dinwiddie, Hideto Tanihara, Casey O’Toole and Johannes Veerman were among those tied for second with 67s. Former British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen had a 69 while the top-ranked player in the tournament, No. 11 Alex Noren, shot 74.
Rumford said he was excited about the match-play component on Sunday.
"The one thing about stroke play is that you’re playing against 156 other guys in the field," the Australian said. "With match play, it’s a different beast. And you see it every time in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, it brings out more the personality in the individuals when it goes one-on-one."
The tournament features a regular cut after the second round, reducing the field to the top 65 pros and ties. There will be a further cut to 24 players after the third round, with the top eight receiving a bye into the first of a series of match play on Sunday.
A purpose-built 90-meter hole has been constructed at Lake Karrinyup with a new tee placed adjacent to the 18th fairway and utilizing the 18th green. It will be played out once and if players remain tied in match play, they will return to the new tee and one shot — a nearest to the pin — will decide the winner.
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