Aron

Price

Price was the first alternate when the field was published on Friday. He has four top 25s in 17 starts on the PGA TOUR this year and sits 163rd on the money list. The Aussie has cashed in both of his previous appearances at Disney World but failed to post a top 60.

Price is 10-for-16 on conditional status this year. He entered this week ranked 160th in earnings, but has illustrated that he can get hot in a given week. At CordeValle today, he hit 15 greens and took 29 putts en route to five birdies, but it was his range on three of them that deserve attention. He rolled in birdies measuring 31'6", 18'6" and 47'5" at the fifth, ninth and 16th holes, respectively.

It’s been a real hit-or-miss season for Price, with four missed cuts in eight starts, but three of his made cuts are Top 20 finishes.

While Fox Den offers just three par 5s, he took advantage with birdies at all three. Price then added four other birdies, all on par 4s. He landed 14 GIR and putted to a 1.50 average, which works just about anywhere. Should he hold on and win, he would lock up his 2013-14 PGA TOUR card. Not too shabby for entering the week 78th on the money list.

The 34-year-old from Sydney heads to Australia’s west coast on the back of a runners-up finish in the Victorian PGA Championship and T12 at the Victorian Open in the last two weeks; he shot 70 or lower in all eight rounds. Price also held his own when the European Tour came Down Under for last year’s Perth International at Lake Karrinyup, the host course of this week’s event. He opened with a pair of 71s, shot a Saturday 72 and then secured a place in the top 25 (T22) with a Sunday 67. Price played his college golf at Georgia Southern University and won on the then Nationwide Tour in 2008 (Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship).

Not only that but medalist Daniel Berger (10-under-par 66-68=134; 2 eagles, 9 birdies, 1 bogey, 1 double bogey), Nicholas Lindheim (7-under 66-71=137) and Andres Echavarria (3-under 70-71=141) will be making their first appearance in a PGA TOUR event. Former TOUR member Aron Price wrapped up the final berth with a pair of 1-under 71s. The Aussie hasn’t teed it up on the circuit since losing his card following the 2011 season. Notables that failed to qualify include: 146--2013 PGA Professional National champion Rod Perry ... 147--Brian Gay; 2010 U.S. Public Links champion Lion Kim ... 149--Chase Koepka (Brooks’ brother).

The Aussie’s round featured five birdies to just one bogey at Panama GC. For those that follow the Web.com Tour on a regular basis, it probably seems odd that the first-round lead is such a high number. This tournament is one of the few where the winning score has been single-digits under par more times than not. Seven out of 10 times, to be exact. There are currently 66 players within five strokes of the lead, so there is plenty left to be sorted out.

Price went out early on Friday and circled five birdies to just one bogey on his first 17 holes. He finished his round on the par-4 ninth with a double bogey. His 10 birdies through two rounds lead the field after a windy couple of days at Panama GC. His two bogeys are tied for fourth best. He’s chasing his second Web.com Tour win this week, and first since the 2008 Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship.

Price looked like he was going to separate after landing three birdies in his first five holes but quickly returned to earth with three consecutive bogeys. The monotony of eight pars on the back nine of Panama GC was broken just once, with a birdie at the par-4 14th. That was enough to boost him to 7-under 203, placing him one clear of Carlos Ortiz, Steve Allan and Roland Thatcher with 18 to play.

Price walked off with an illness after nine holes of his second round last week, so it’s good to see him bounce back quickly. Today he found 12 GIR but needed a whopping 30 putts at Brown Deer Park.