The Competition Begins: 18 Hole Four-Ball Stroke Play Qualifying
October 31, 2012
The first day of competition for the 2012 World Club Championship at Diamante Cabo San Lucas, Mexico began with a ceremony on the 1st Tee. In memory of Norman Swenson, who passed away traveling home following the 2011 World Club Championship at Nine Bridges, the driver he used as a team member of Pine Valley was presented to the defending Champions from Durban Country Club in South Africa. The Durban Club Champion Ryan Birnie, using Norman's driver, hit the first ball as a tribute to this three-time participant and dear friend of the WC and amateur golf and to kick off the first round of competition.
Following the First Tee Ceremony, play began with each team being individually introduced to an enthusiastic audience before beginning their trek down a hill and onto the first fairway.
The prevailing wind, normally from the northwest, came from the south. This condition made for three especially tough holes in a row. Hole #9, par 4 with the 2nd lowest handicap has an elevated green and headed into the wind, hole #10, par 4 has an uphill approach into the wind, and hole #11, par 3 is 180 yards actual but played over 200 to an elevated green into the wind. Hole #11 has a difficult undulating green and long shots over the green go down a steep dune to the beach.
John Greene and Geoff Lenehan of Portmarnock Golf Club in Ireland led the day. They birdied 17 to go 7 under and shot 5 under 30 on the front nine, made 5 on 12,16,17 to shoot 65, 7 under.
Tied for 2nd were C. J. Koroll and John Madden from Medinah Country Club, USA which recently hosted the Ryder Cup. Both players are avid fisherman and John went to the ocean at 6am, caught a fish and headed out with his partner to chip in for an eagle on hole #1. They were 5 under through 6 and held to finish 5 under, 67.
Pine Valley USA with the father son team of Bob Lewis who has played in the Walker Cup and son and club champion Tristan Lewis shot a 5 under 67 as well. Tristan's 2nd shot was spectacular to one foot on 18.
Los Angeles Country Club, USA shot a 68 getting there the old fashioned way. Taylor Haden, whose famous father is Pat Haden the former quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, and partner John Meek had 4 for 4 par 5's to be 4 under.
Also 4 under was Colin Flabbi and Mark Elgner of St. George's Golf and Country Club in Canada. They birdied hole #18 for a 68.
Defending Champions Durban Country Club in South Africa represented by Ryan Birnie and Sean Fenger came in at 2 under.
Enrique Guzman and Mason Jones the Club Champion of Host Club Diamante Cabo San Lucas, Mexico ended their round at even.
Today was an 18 hole four-ball stroke play qualifying tournament. The results are:
| Ireland | Portmarnock GC | John Greene, Geoff Lenehan | -7 |
| USA | Medinah CC | C.J. Koroll, John Madden | -5 |
| USA | Pine Valley GC | Robert Lewis, Tristan Lewis | -5 |
| Canada | St. George's G&CC | Colin Flabbi, Mark Elgner | -4 |
| USA | Los Angeles CC | Taylor Haden, John Meek | -4 |
| USA | Riviera CC | Jeff Johnston, Mike Riedel | -3 |
| USA | Seminole GC | David Abell, Kelly Miller | -3 |
| USA | Winged Foot GC | Rob Christie, Matthew Hultquist | -3 |
| Northern Ireland | Royal Portrush GC | Matt McAlpin, Patrick McCrudden | -3 |
| South Africa | Durban CC | Ryan Birnie, Sean Fenger | -2 |
| England | Walton Heath GC | Tom Cordiner, Jonathan Greener | -2 |
| Scotland | Royal Troon GC | Paul Moultrie, Michael Smyth | -1 |
| Mexico | Diamante GC | Enrique Guzman, Mason Jones | E |
| Australia | Royal Melbourne GC | Paul Little, Tom Stephens | +1 |
| Japan | Tokyo GC | Masahiro Katsumata, Atsushi Yao | +1 |
| Portugal | Oitavos Dunes | Ruben Figueiredo, Pierre-Alexis Rolland | +1 |
| USA | Merion GC | Gordy Jamieson, Bob Wagner | +1 |
| South Korea | Nine Bridges | Stanley Kim, Chris Kwon | +2 |
| France | Morfontaine GC | Pascal Grizot, Gérard Zivy | +5 |
| Spain | Valderrama GC | José Manuel Martínez, Javier Reviriego | +7 |
