JACO VAN ZYL SETS PACE IN WEATHER-HIT AFRICA OPEN
NEWS RELEASE
South African Jaco Van Zyl overcame blustery conditions and a suspension
in play at East London Golf Club to set the clubhouse lead of six under
par 66 in the weather disrupted first round of the Africa Open.
The winds reached such speeds that play had to be halted for nearly
three hours as balls started moving on the greens, particularly at the
exposed third hole, meaning that only the morning groups completed their
rounds.
It was Van Zyl, still searching for his maiden European Tour title, who
adapted best to the difficult conditions, carding five birdies and an
eagle three on the par five 15th, after starting his round on the ninth
hole
His only dropped shot was a bogey on the second hole, as the 33 year old
opened up a two shot clubhouse lead over Englishman John Parry.
“All I could think about over those last three holes was how much I
wanted to get off the golf course,” Van Zyl said. “The wind was really,
really brutal out there, especially over the front nine. It was a
struggle to stand and keep your balance over your putts,
so the suspension was a good call.”
Parry won during his rookie campaign in 2010, but lost his card a year
later before romping to victory at Qualifying School to ensure a return
to The European Tour.
He had five birdies and a bogey in his first 11 holes to join Van Zyl at
the top of the leaderboard, but went in the wrong direction after the
break with bogeys at the second and fourth dropping him to two under
with four to play.
However he responded with birdies at the fifth and seventh to return to
four under, and as a result took second in the clubhouse after signing
for a 68, with Van Zyl’s compatriot Oliver Bekker one shot further back
following a 69.
Playing in one of the last groups of the day Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva
made a remarkable start to his round. The 41 year old had four birdies
in his first five holes to sit one shot behind Parry on five under par
through eight holes.
He and the remainder of the afternoon groups will resume play on Friday
at 07.00hrs after fading light forced the players off the course at
18.55hrs local time.
Leading completed scores (afternoon players to finish first round on Friday at 07.00hrs)
Par 72
66 J Van Zyl (RSA)
66 J Van Zyl (RSA)
68 J Parry (ENG)
69 O Bekker (RSA)
70 B Åkesson (SWE), D Greene (RSA), G Bourdy (FRA), A Sullivan (ENG), T Van de Walt (RSA)
71 A Georgiou (RSA), T Mordt (RSA), U Van Den Berg (RSA)
72 G Mulroy (RSA), M Delpodio (ITA), C Basson (RSA), A Kaleka (FRA), L De Jager (RSA)
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