Course record 64 gives Colsaerts early lead

 

Colsaerts has developed something of an affinity for the Volvo sponsored tournaments as he won his maiden European Tour title at the Volvo China Open in April 2011.  He also finished third at the Volvo World Match Play Championships last year.  Reputed to be one of the longest hitters on the tour, one would expect him to birdie most of the par fives.  He, nevertheless, birdied each of the four par threes today.  It was this combination of long hitting and accurate approach shots to the short holes that saw him finish four shots clear of local players Branden Grace and Thomas Aiken, both of whom appeared  somewhat bemused when asked if they expected to be four shots behind after firing opening rounds of 68.    

 

Grace birdied the first, but then dropped shots at the third and fourth.  He chipped in for eagle at the ninth and that seemed to kick start the rest of his round.  Four birdies without a dropped shot on the back nine saw him come home in 33 to card a five under 68. 

 

Aiken, on the other hand, recorded four birdies on the front nine to go out in 32.  Two birdies and one dropped shot saw him come home in 36 and sign for an opening round of 68.  This puts him tied for second place with Grace and Englishman Tom Lewis. 

 

Louis Oosthuizen also dropped an early shot at the third, but then made five birdies to score rounds of 35 and 34 for a four under par total of 69.  

 

Both Ernie Els and Retief Goosen battled back from slow starts to finish at two under and one under respectively.  

 

Hennie Otto and Garth Mulroy both scored steady 71’s.  Charl Schwartzel recovered somewhat from a horror first nine to finish two over par. 

 

Day One scores as follows: