After a delayed start to the first round of the Challenge Tour’s Challenge Costa Brava on Tuesday, Hennie du Plessis managed to complete his round in three-under-par 68.
That gave him a share of 14th, with the round suspended due to darkness and set to be completed on Wednesday morning. The lead was held by France’s Frederic Lacroix on seven-under-par 64, and he was two strokes ahead of seven players on 66, one of whom, Filippo Bergamaschi of Italy, had completed just nine holes.
Du Plessis made five birdies and two bogeys in the final tournament on the Challenge Tour ahead of the Grand Final set for November 4. After the final, the top 20 players on the Challenge Tour rankings will win European Tour cards, and Du Plessis is projected to climb one spot closer to that number in 37th – which means he will be pushing as hard as he can this week.
One of the players who has all but sewn up his European Tour playing privileges is Oliver Bekker, who is inside the top 10 in the rankings. He finished the day’s play with 10 holes behind him on one-under.
Jacques Blaauw was on level-par, and is currently projected to be 33rd in the rankings, while JC Ritchie has work to do after an opening four-over 75 has him projected to 26th on the list.
