DP World Tour: Nedbank Challenge Leaderboard
Nicolai Højgaard continued his superb campaign after carding a brilliant 66 to hold a share of the four-way clubhouse lead following the first round of the 2023 Nedbank Golf Challenge.
The Dane was playing in his first DP World Tour event since helping Team Europe reclaim the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in September, but he showed no signs of fatigue as he mixed eight birdies with two dropped shots in Sun City.
The 22-year-old made his debut in the biennial event as Luke Donald's team secured a 16 ½ - 11 ½ victory against the U.S. Team and maintained his fine form to set the early clubhouse lead at six under par at Gary Player Country Club.
He was soon joined by Dan Bradbury, who holed a lengthy eagle putt at the ninth - his last - to climb to the summit, before Sweden's Vincent Norrman and American Max Homa signed flawless cards of 66.
"It was quite steady out there today. I felt like I hit a lot of fairways, quite conservatively off the tee - a lot of five woods and three woods today to keep them in play and try and work my way into the week," Højgaard said.
"So I did that really well today and hit some quality iron shots, rolled in a few putts and then you shoot 66 round here, which I'm over the moon to shoot 66."
Meronk, who missed birdie opportunities at the last two holes, is one adrift alongside Guerrier and Japan's Ryo Hisatsune, while Molinari, Sharma and Pavon sat at four under par with Dane Jeff Winther, Scot Richie Ramsay and Sweden's Sebastian Söderberg.
Two-time defending champion Tommy Fleetwood found water at the last for a double bogey in his 71, while two-time U.S. PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas sits at level par.
edit *** Canadian Aaron Cockerill was listed as 1st alternative
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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