Jacques Kruyswijk started slowly on Thursday in the opening round of the European Tour’s Austrian Golf Open at Diamond Country Club near Vienna, but he finished the day at four-under-par to find himself one stroke off the lead.
He kicked off his round on the 10th in very cold and sometimes very windy conditions, and followed his opening par with a bogey five on the 11th. But birdies on 13, 15 and 17 saw him turn at two-under, and then consecutive birdies on four and five on a blemish-free homeward nine meant he was just one behind Spain’s Alejandro Canizares.
Kruyswijk shared second place with Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg, American John Catlin and Gemany’s Martin Kaymer.
Next best of the South African players was Justin Walters at one-under in a share of 20th, with Garrick Higgo and Zander Lombard on level-par. Dean Burmester battled to two-over, Haydn Porteous and Bryce Easton were on four-over together with Louis de Jager, while Justin Harding was on five-over-par in a share of 103rd.
