Water baby Boyd breaks course record
FROM PAUL SYMES, Challenge Tour Press Officer
Some superb stroke-play as well as a hefty slice of luck helped England’s Gary Boyd to a round of 63 on the rain-affected opening day of the Kazakhstan Open, which carries the largest prize fund of a regular Challenge Tour event.
Boyd smashed the course record at the stunning Arnold Palmer-designed Zhailjau Golf Resort in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with nine birdies in a flawless round of golf.
That represents Boyd’s lowest round to par – his previous best was an eight under par 62 in Poland last year – in a fledgling professional career which has so far yielded one Challenge Tour victory.
With some of the afternoon starters still to complete their first rounds due to a two-hour delay caused by heavy rain, the Englishman currently leads the €400,000 event by three strokes from Sweden’s Oscar Floren and American Nathan Smith, who are tied for second place on six under par.
But Boyd’s advantage would have been reduced were it not for an outrageous slice of fortune at the ninth hole, where he thinned his third shot into the lake – only for his ball to skim across the surface of the water and onto the bank on the far side, from where he was able to save par with an up and down.
A slightly sheepish Boyd said: “I got off to a steady start, and then four birdies in a row from the fourth hole really got me going. Then I had a massive stroke of luck on the ninth hole when I managed to skim my third shot across the lake. I was just on the edge of the hazard and caught it thin, but it must’ve bounced on the water about ten times and ended up on the bank on the other side!
“It was unbelievable really. I managed to get up and down for par, and after that I thought it might be my day. I also holed a lot of crucial putts, which always helps. It’s my lowest round to par in my career, and it’s obviously set me up really nicely for the rest of the week – although there’s still a long way to go. But it’s a dream start – or even better than a dream in fact.”
Lloyd Saltman is currently in fourth place on five under par after completing 12 holes. The Scot, who posted three birdies and an eagle on the front nine, will return in the morning to finish his remaining six holes.
SCOREBOARD TO COME
FROM PAUL SYMES, Challenge Tour Press Officer
Some superb stroke-play as well as a hefty slice of luck helped England’s Gary Boyd to a round of 63 on the rain-affected opening day of the Kazakhstan Open, which carries the largest prize fund of a regular Challenge Tour event.
Boyd smashed the course record at the stunning Arnold Palmer-designed Zhailjau Golf Resort in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with nine birdies in a flawless round of golf.
That represents Boyd’s lowest round to par – his previous best was an eight under par 62 in Poland last year – in a fledgling professional career which has so far yielded one Challenge Tour victory.
With some of the afternoon starters still to complete their first rounds due to a two-hour delay caused by heavy rain, the Englishman currently leads the €400,000 event by three strokes from Sweden’s Oscar Floren and American Nathan Smith, who are tied for second place on six under par.
But Boyd’s advantage would have been reduced were it not for an outrageous slice of fortune at the ninth hole, where he thinned his third shot into the lake – only for his ball to skim across the surface of the water and onto the bank on the far side, from where he was able to save par with an up and down.
A slightly sheepish Boyd said: “I got off to a steady start, and then four birdies in a row from the fourth hole really got me going. Then I had a massive stroke of luck on the ninth hole when I managed to skim my third shot across the lake. I was just on the edge of the hazard and caught it thin, but it must’ve bounced on the water about ten times and ended up on the bank on the other side!
“It was unbelievable really. I managed to get up and down for par, and after that I thought it might be my day. I also holed a lot of crucial putts, which always helps. It’s my lowest round to par in my career, and it’s obviously set me up really nicely for the rest of the week – although there’s still a long way to go. But it’s a dream start – or even better than a dream in fact.”
Lloyd Saltman is currently in fourth place on five under par after completing 12 holes. The Scot, who posted three birdies and an eagle on the front nine, will return in the morning to finish his remaining six holes.
SCOREBOARD TO COME
Labels: CHALLENGE TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Thursday, September 17, 2009
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