Gow Breaks Australasian PGA Record

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) â€” Australia's Paul Gow shot a 12-under-par 60 on Thursday in the first round of the Canon Challenge to break the Australian PGA Tour scoring record. <br><br>Gow, the defending

Thursday, January 25th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) â€” Australia's Paul Gow shot a 12-under-par 60 on Thursday in the first round of the Canon Challenge to break the Australian PGA Tour scoring record.

Gow, the defending champion, had an eagle and 10 birdies on the Castle Hill course. He broke the record of 61 set by Australia's Mike Harwood in the 1993 Australian PGA at Corcord in Sydney.

``When I woke up I knew something was going to happen. I didn't know I was going to shoot 12 under. I would have been happy with 3 or 4 under,'' Gow said.

He made a 2-foot par putt on his final hole â€” the ninth â€” after missing a 20-foot birdie try for a 59. He was distracted by a cell phone before the birdie attempt.

``I was all ready to go and a guy's mobile phone went off, but that's no excuse,'' Gow said. ``I went through the same routine the next time around and hit a really good putt. It just ran out of steam going down the hill.''

He needed only 24 putts, and hit 17 greens in regulation.

``I hardly missed a shot all day,'' Gow said. ``I hit a bunch of good shots. I really didn't hole everything I looked at. The greens are really receptive and I had the best conditions.''

Gow originally planned to skip the tournament, but elected to defend his title after missing the cut last Friday in the PGA Tour's Sony Open in Hawaii. He will return to the United States next week for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Playing partner Stephen Leaney of Australia was second after a 65. ``I could do nothing but watch and clap,'' Leaney said.

Australia's Aaron Baddeley, the third member of the threesome, shot a 74. ``It's one of the most impressive rounds I've ever seen,'' the two-time Australian Open champion said.

American Jim Benepe, Germany's Thomas Gogele and Australians Kenny Druce and Tony Mills opened with 66s.

David Gossett, the 1999 U.S. Amateur champion making his third straight tour start, shot a 67. The former University of Texas tied for 15th last week in the New Zealand Open.