THIRTEEN-time champion Craig Boucher is off to a strong start in the Ballarat District Golf Association's annual 54-hole open tournament.
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Boucher shot a one-over-par opening round of 73 at his home course of Midlands in perfect conditions on Saturday.
He leads Mt Xavier's Darren Bowman and fellow Midlands golfer Scott Henry by one, with Henry also claiming the men's division one handicap with a nett 70.
"I didn't play very well but it was pretty hard going around there today," Boucher said.
"I got off to a good start, but had a bad finish with three bogeys in last four holes.
"That made it a bit disappointing.
"They set the course up a bit different and the greens were running a bit quicker, so it was still difficult for the members as well."
Boucher made birdies at the sixth, ninth and 14th holes before consecutive bogeys from the 15th-17 derailed what was looking like a quality round.
He rebounded with a birdie on the final hole, but says he needs to improve his ball striking in the second round at Buninyong on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Helen Pascoe leads the women's A grade scratch with an opening round of 78.
Paula Bandy took out the women's division one Stableford with 35 points, while Creswick's Adrianna Cunnington won division two with 41 points.
John Mytyk leads the men's division two Stableford on 43, while Neville Keen sits in front of the division three field on 41.
MEN'S SCRATCH TOP-FIVE
Craig Boucher - 73
Darren Bowman - 74
Scott Henry - 74
Corey Haase - 75
Chris Van Der Host - 75