CoetzeefeelsingoodshapewithshareofFrenchlead
SOUTH African George Coetzee and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox claimed a share of the lead after the first round of the French Open yesterday as the European Tour returned to Le Golf National a year after it hosted the Ryder Cup.
The leading duo fired six-under-par 65s to edge ahead on a kind day for scoring, with World No.128 Fox missing a good birdie chance on the final green as darkness started to close in.
The scene could not have differed more from just over 12 months ago.
The grandstands were gone and there was a low-key feel to an opening day, watched by only a smattering of spectators, of a tournament which has lost some of its allure this week after being pushed from its usual spot at the start of July and removed from the lucrative Rolex Series.
French player Benjamin Hebert said: “Today was a bit quiet. Thursday is normal. It’s okay.”
Defending champion Alex Noren is the highest-ranked player in the field at 53rd and the only man who also featured in the Ryder Cup, so organisers will be relieved that the event will be returning to its regular slot next year, albeit reportedly in southern France.
The 33-year-old Coetzee played the front nine in five-under, while a bogey on the penultimate green was his only blemish.
Coetzee has managed only one top-five finish so far this season — tied-second behind compatriot Justin Harding at the Qatar Masters in March — but thinks he is starting to find the form which helped him climb to a career-high 41st ranking in 2013.
He has since slipped to his current mark of 289th.
“It’s nice to be in the mix again. It’s been kind of a hard, long year, but feels like the game is coming along nicely,” the fourtime European Tour winner said after taking advantage of the early conditions, despite the morning gloom. “It was weird playing in the dark. If I was a cricketer, they would have called it off.
“The course is in amazing nick. Dark and light doesn’t really make a difference when the course is as good as it is.”
IRELAND’S women fell to a 1-0 defeat against South Korea at the Three Nations tournament in Dublin last night as they continued their build-up to next month’s Olympic qualifiers against Canada at Donnybrook.
It was their second consecutive loss after they went down 4-2 to Belgium, who won the tournament.
Six Ulster players were included in the Irish squad last night, with Belfast Harlequins midfielder Serena Barr missing out.
Pegasus defender Shirley McCay earned her 299th cap and is set to make it a triple-century in the first of two games against Germany next week.
Ireland captain Katie Mullan, while disappointed with the result, said the two games have been useful as they bid for a first ever Olympics appearance.
The Coleraine woman said: “We would have hoped for better results but it’s been an invaluable exercise as we were playing on an identical surface to the one we will encounter at the qualifiers in Donnybrook.”
Jun Geun Seo’s 15th-minute penalty corner strike proved decisive.
Meanwhile, Annadale got their Kirk Cup campaign off to a winning start when they came from behind to beat North Down 2-1 at Comber Leisure Centre.
Phil Templeton gave the home team an early lead but Annadale responded with two penalty corner strikes converted by skipper Ryan Burgess in the second half.
Tomorrow, Lisnagarvey need just a point against Queen’s to progress to the semi-finals.
Garvey will be expected to defeat the Ulster Premier League season side with some comfort.
Cookstown also need a point to advance to the last-four when they entertain Newry, who require a win.
FIXTURES: Tomorrow: Irish Hockey Challenge first round: North Kildare v Antrim (2.30pm). Kirk Cup: Pool A: Raphoe v South Antrim (2.30pm). Pool B: Bangor v Instonians (2.30pm). Pool C: Newry v Cookstown (2.45pm). Pool D: Portadown v Kilkeel (1pm); Queen’s v Lisnagarvey (2.30pm). Linden Cup: Pool A: Civil Service v Saintfield (2.30pm); PSNI v Portrush (2.30pm). Pool B: Armagh v Belfast Harlequins (1pm); CI v Down (2.30pm).