It was a day of missed opportunities for many of the South Africans at the 101st Open de France at the Le Golf National on Thursday, but not for George Coetzee, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Haydn Porteous, Hennie Otto and Justin Walters were prime examples of the Saffas struggles after beginning well, but then fading in difficult scoring conditions around the course that will host the 2018 Ryder Cup.
All three had their name on the early leaderboard, with Porteous even moving into a share of the early lead as he made a bright start with birdies on the par-five third hole and two in a row at 6 and 7. A bogey to close his opening nine saw him turn in 34, but he quickly recovered that lost shot on the 10th. Looking solid after two pars, the 22-year-old stumbled with bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes before making a double on the 17th to compound the pain. He closed with a par and a back nine +3 38 to see him at one over par after the opening round.
Joining him on +1 was Otto, who started off brightly with birdies on the first, third and sixth holes. He too, bogeyed the ninth and was one shot off the early lead, but failed to enhance his position with five straight pars. A double on 15 and a bogey on 17 saw him limp into the clubhouse matching Porteous’ back nine 38.
Walters finished a shot further back after a round which started with a bogey, before an eagle on 3 and two further front nine birdies. The back nine started off well enough with a par and a birdie, before disaster struck as he went drop, drop, double drop. Walters managed to get back on with a 2 on the 16th, but immediately dropped another shot on the 17th. A familiar back nine 38 was the result. Trevor Fisher Jnr also finished level after three birdies and the same number of bogeys on the back nine.
George Coetzee bucked the trend with nines of 35 and 33 in a round that included two bogeys and five birdies – two of those coming on par 3s. Coetzee’s fine start puts him only two shots behind surprise first-round leader Alexander Bjork (66), with English duo Tommy Fleetwood and Nathan Kimsey one shot further behind.
‘Yeah, I was pleased. I love coming here. I love playing the golf course. It’s one of the best courses we play all year,’ said Coetzee.
‘Yeah, this year, it’s been strange. I’ve played really well. I’ve really enjoyed my golf and I’ve put myself in contention quite a lot. Just building on that and trying to be more consistent,’ he explained.
Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman endured a day to forget, signing for an opening +4 75. Dylan Frittelli and Richard Sterne were two shots better, but will have plenty to do tomorrow if they want to stick around for the weekend.
Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
