Local hero Joost Luiten opened up a one-shot lead on the first day of the Dutch Open as he bids for a third victory at his home tournament.
The 36-year-old Dutchman, who won the KLM Open in 2013 and 2016, shot an opening 65 at Bernardus Golf to get to seven-under-par, one stroke clear of Englishman Eddie Pepperell and Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard.
South Africa’s Darren Fichardt is tied for eighth after carding a four-under 68. JC Ritchie is on three under, with Hennie du Plessis, Wilco Nienaber and Daniel van Tonder all on two under.
Luiten very nearly led by two but his 44-foot eagle putt on the 18th refused to drop despite hitting the hole.
The six-time DP World Tour winner began his round with a birdie on the opening hole and reeled off three consecutive gains at the 4th, 5th and 6th as he went out in 32.
A bogey on the par-four 11th looked to have put a halt on his march up the leaderboard but Luiten kept his cool to claim that shot back on the next.
His luck was certainly in on the par-three 13th as Luiten’s tee-shot hit the branches of a greenside tree and his ball ended up on the edge of the putting surface.
Luiten’s 16-foot putt gave him a birdie and left him a stroke behind the early leaders in the clubhouse – Pepperell and Højgaard.
He then holed his birdie putt from just under six feet on the 15th before very nearly going on to grab a two-shot lead at the last.
But when Luiten’s eagle putt from range lipped out on the par-five 18th he was still able to claim a birdie to sign for a 65.
“It could have been better but you know, I won’t be too picky!” he said. “I have been struggling a bit with my game, so it was great to see the score today and for some reason I just love playing in front of the home crowd.
“I got off to a fast start and I kept it going, seven under is a good day in these conditions.”
Marcel Schneider, Mikko Korhonen, Victor Perez and Andrea Pavan were in a tie for fourth on five under after their opening 67s.
– This is an edited report from the DP World Tour website
