Adilson Da Silva opened the MCB Tour Championship-Mauritius at Constance Belle Mare Plage in Port Louis, Mauritius with a five-under-par 67 to be just two strokes off the lead in the 54-hole season finale.
There was nothing to choose between Peter Baker and Da Silva in the two-man battle at the top of the MCB Road to Mauritius, with both players shooting 67 to sit tied-fourth. The Englishman has the advantage, though, as Da Silva needs at least a top-three finish to have a chance of overtaking Baker at the summit.
Da Silva opened the round as if he was going to try and win the whole thing on the first day, making four birdies in a row to open up. It was pars all the way until he dropped a shot on the 11th. But he birdied 16 and 18 for his five-under.
It was a day of low-scoring in hot conditions at the Legends Tour’s season finale, with Michael Jonzon at the summit of a leaderboard that includes 18 players shooting in the 60s at the par-72 Legend Course.
The Swede got off to a hot start with four birdies in the first six holes to move to the turn in 32. He kickstarted his charge again with red numbers at 10 and 11, and ultimately got himself into the lead with two more at 16 and 17. He found water with his second shot on the par-five 18th, but he was able to scramble for a good par and a bogey-free 64.
He had a one-shot lead ahead of Markus Brier and Euan McIntosh, who birdied all four par-fives and had no worse than a four on the card in their respective 65s.
James Kingston opened with a three-under 69, while Chris Williams had a one-under-par 71.
