DP World Tour : Soudal Open Leaderboard
Sam Jones celebrated a career-first albatross as an incredible burst of scoring helped him set the early pace at the Soudal Open in Belgium.
The New Zealander, competing in his rookie season on the DP World Tour, holed his second shot at the par-five 17th at Rinkven International Golf Club late into his opening round to set an imposing clubhouse target of nine under par.
With preferred lies in play for the first two rounds, his nine-under 62 is not a new course record but the first albatross of the DP World Tour season contributed to a fine nine-under 62 that moved him into a two-shot lead over England's Matthew Jordan in the opening event of the European Swing.
After mixing three birdies with one bogey on his front nine to hit the turn at two under, he followed a birdie at the 11th with a hat-trick of gains from the 14th before his moment of magic at the penultimate hole.
"Initially it was going to be a three-shot, was going to lay it up (on 17)," he said.
"Thought about three iron off the tee, hit three wood, pulled it a little bit but hit it nicely.
"Got up there, had 248 metres to the flag, said to my caddie Keith that it was the perfect three wood, into the breeze a little bit.
"I was going well already at that stage so I thought if I made a bogey it was no big deal. Just hit it, flushed it, called to it to be good in the air and it was. First ever albatross, not a bad place to do it."
Jones, who earned his DP World Tour card through Qualifying School last year, arrived in Belgium on the back of missed cuts in four of his last five starts.
But having only secured his status on the DP World Tour just two weeks after turning professional, the 27-year-old is taking everything in his stride.
“I’m taking it as it comes (first year as a professional),” explained Jones, who last played on the DP World Tour at the Hero Indian Open in March.
Jordan produced a birdie-birdie finish to also end his first round in fine fashion and ensure he was the next best from the morning wave.
The 28-year-old last played in this event two years ago, finishing in a tie for 15th, and it is a course he believes suits his eye in a similar way to Muthaiga Golf Club in Kenya, scene of his sole top ten finish so far this season.
"I can’t give a magic solution to why I like this track," he said, after mixing eight birdies with one bogey. "It reminds me a bit of Kenya, like a European Kenya, and I did well there a couple of months ago. Maybe I should play these type of courses more often."
edit **** Meanwhile Canadian Aaron Cockerill has returned to action with a six birdie one bogey 66 -5 T4 well into the first round. While Jones was making his albatross on the 17th it was the only blemish for Cockerill who could only advance his 2nd 20 yards from the rough after an errant drive resulting in a 6.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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