NEWCASTLE golfer Blake Windred landed two eagles in the space of six holes at the Victorian PGA Championship on Thursday and will start the second round just two shots off the pace.
Windred finished eight under (64) in a three-way tie for fifth after the opening round on the legends course at Moonah Links Resort having picked up six strokes during his back nine.
The 23-year-old, who began play on the ninth, shot threes on both the par-five first and sixth which measure 487 and 501 metres respectively.
On each occasion he reached the green in two, a driver and four iron, before sinking putts.
"It was definitely good to convert those eagle chances," Windred told the Newcastle Herald.
"It's something that doesn't happen all the time and when the opportunity is there you've just got to try and run with it because everyone else is."
It was a day of low scoring, featuring joint leaders Dimitrios Papadatos, Cameron John at 10 under (62) and only 10 players going over par.
Having turned at two under, a bogey on the third was Windred's sole blemish on the run home.
His first eagle was followed by a birdie and despite some narrow misses in between he closed out proceedings with another eagle and back-to-back birdies.
"The first hole I really needed to get something going because I was only a couple under," the Novocastrian said.
"In the middle of everything I had a couple of horseshoes and left one hanging over the edge.
"Fortunately I was able to stay in it and to finish eagle, birdie, birdie was really rewarding."
Windred earlier birdied the ninth, 12th, 14th and 16th holes.
Jake Higginbottom, Aaron Townsend and Rob Hogan are the next best locals, both sitting at three under after opening rounds of 69 on Thursday. Andrew Dodt (70) is one stroke further back in tied 60th.
Windred said he was expecting tougher weather conditions on Friday with wind and rain both predicted.
Play continues on the legends course for day two before moving to the open course this weekend as well as next week's Moonah Links PGA Classic.
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