Steady start from Kiwis

NEW Zealand made a steady start at the Eisenhower Trophy at Le Golf National near Paris yesterday but Japan has already taken a commanding lead.

Sam Jones, James Hydes and Kazuma Kobori combined for 2over to be 29thequal in their quest to win the world amateur team championship for a second time, on the 30th anniversary of New Zealand’s historic first win.

Jones and Kobori had the two counting scores, shooting an evenpar 71 and a 2over 73 respectively. Hydes finished with a 5over 76.

Japan has a sixshot lead following the first day’s play at 14under. Spain is second at 8under with five countries a further shot back.

Jones struck the ball beautifully, tee through green, in his opening nine.

He began with three pars before making a birdie on 13. The Taranaki golfer parred his remaining holes after watching several birdie putts shave the hole.

His back nine started in a similar fashion, hitting a fine shot into the par3 second to give himself another look. He was again denied and unfortunately made bogies on five and seven to drop him back to 1over with two holes to go.

Jones hit one of the shots of the day on eight, almost holing out, leaving himself a kick in two, and with his par on nine, he was able to return a solid evenpar 71.

Kobori also struck the ball well off the tee, but an errant approach on his third hole left him with an impossible chip, which resulted in a double bogey. He parred his remaining holes on the opening nine to turn in 2overpar.

The Cantabrian began his closing nine with a birdie on the first to get back to even.

However, like Jones, his putts continued to slide by the edge of the holes. He parred his remaining holes but bogeyed six to sign for an opening round of 2over.

Hydes fought hard all round but could not quite get anything going. He made six bogeys but birdied his final hole.