Oliver Bekker might have made a double bogey on Thursday, but his eight birdies still saw him into a three-way share of the first-round lead of the DP World Tour’s Catalunya Championship in Girona, Spain.
Bekker got things going relatively quietly with three birdies on the front nine, on the first, fifth and seventh. But then came the double-drop, immediately after the turn on the 10th. He responded in the perfect way, making three birdies in a row from the 11th, and picking up two more on the 15th and 17th.
In a share of the lead with him is fellow-South African Darren Fichardt. The veteran also made a double bogey in his round, his coming on the final hole of the day, the 18th. His opening nine was even quieter than Bekker’s with just two birdies. Birdies on 10, 12 and 13 were followed by three in a row from the 15th.
The third player at the top of the leaderboard with the two South Africans was Jeff Winther of Denmark. They led by one from Sebastian Heisele of Germany, England’s James Morrison and Haotong Li of China.
There were five players a further shot back in a share of seventh on four-under, including Hennie du Plessis, who finished third in last week’s tournament in Spain.
Justin Walters opened with a three-under, while Thriston Lawrence carded a two-under-par 70. Jacques Kruyswijk and Zander Lombard were on level-par, Daniel van Tonder was on three-over and Richard Sterne on five-over. Brandon Stone had an eight-over and Haydn Porteous battled to a nine-over-par 81.
