HEBERT REIGNS BEFORE DOWNPOUR HALTS PLAY IN NORWEGIAN CHALLENGE

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Benjamin Hebert carded an eagle and five birdies to move into a two-shot lead at the Norwegian Challenge before heavy rain and flooding ended play in the early stages of the opening round at Losby Golf Club, near Oslo.

The Frenchman, who in 2011 stormed to three quick-fire victories to earn automatic promotion to The European Tour, teed off at the tenth hole and gave his round a massive boost with an eagle at the par five 11^th after holing out from 130 yards.

The 26 year old followed that up with a first birdie of the day at the 12^th before picking up two more shots at the 14^th and 15^th, and another birdie at the 17^th took him to the turn in six under par.

Before he was forced to come off the course, Hebert managed to card a two at the par three second hole to take a two-shot lead through 16 holes, on seven under par.

“I had a great start, holing a shot from 120 metres with a punched eight iron,” said Hebert. “Then I had a birdie straight after that and I was lucky on the 15^th too, holing a chip for birdie, so it was all great really.

“I even missed short putts for birdie at the 16^th and 18^th but after that it became more difficult because it started raining. But I played very well and I have been playing well for three weeks now.”

Like the rest of the players that were out on the course when play was suspended, Hebert will resume his first round at 7:30am local time while the afternoon groups from the first round draw, who did not get to tee off on day one, will start between 8:00am and 10:00am before the second round begins later in the day.

“It will be a long day probably but it’s not too bad,” he said. “I'm just going to rest up and have a good lunch in between rounds. I'm happy about my game so the delay is no problem to me.”

Norwegian Anders Engell was leading the home charge before play was stopped on day one as he sat in tied second place - alongside Dane Lucas Bjerregaard - on five under par, having only played 11 holes in which he hit a superb run of three consecutive birdies followed by an eagle at the par five 17^th.

 

For more, visit www.europeantour.com/challengetour

 

ENDS

 

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS