- By Justin Falconer

New South Welshman Cameron Pollard worked the conditions beautifully on Monday at Barwon Heads GC to earn the halfway lead at the 2020 Victorian Inclusive Championships.

Despite brutal and relentless winds that persisted throughout the afternoon, the Sawtell Golf Club member came home in 36 on his way to a gritty opening 12-over 82.

It’s not the first time Pollard has come home with a wet sail, after shooting 38 on the back nine on Sunday at November’s Australian All Abilities Championship in Sydney.

Pollard, who represented Australia at the ISPS Handa Disabled Golf Cup during the Presidents Cup, picked up birdies at 10 and 16 which proved to be the difference at day’s end.

Englishman Shaun Bakker will enter the final round two strokes further back after an opening 84 of his own.

Bakker also ground out a solid finish, dropping just five shots in his final eight holes of the day to keep touch with playing partner Pollard.

Victorian Mike Rolls led for much of Monday’s opening round but a few dropped shots in his final two holes saw him card an 86 to be four back of the outright leader.

Fellow Victorian Arnold Bamroong of Werribee Park GC is one stroke further back after an 87, while Magenta Shores’s Damien Thomlinson rounds out the top five following an 88.

The field now heads across town to 13th Beach Golf Links for tomorrow’s final round, the competitors getting to experience the Beach Course just days out from the start of the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open.

Click here for the full leaderboard following round one.