Hidalgo gets the party going at Randpark

SPAIN’S Angel Hidalgo set the clubhouse target before bad weather brought an early end to day one of the Joburg Open at Randpark.

The threat of lightning forced play to be suspended shortly after 5pm local time, with Hidalgo among the players safely in the clubhouse following an opening six-under-par 65.

The 23-year-old recorded an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys to lead by one from England’s Ashley Chesters, with South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli part of a seven-strong group a shot further back on four under.

Hidalgo (inset) said: “It was a lot of fun. This was like my third DP World Tour event in three years, so I was a bit nervous early in my round. But this start means a lot to me. It gives me a lot of confidence. It’s great to be here and playing with the best, so let’s start the party.”

Frittelli, who finished fifth in last November’s Masters and in the same position in the Open Championship in July, vowed to continue taking an aggressive approach after his opening 67.

“I’m just going to keep smashing the driver out there,” the world No.112 said. “I think if I can hit driver as far as I can it’s going to benefit me. I’m just going to keep my foot on the gas.

“In a lot of these Sunshine Tour events I’ve been a little bit cautious and tried to just keep it in play, but now I’m just going to go at it full tilt and see where it ends up after 72 holes.”

Pre-tournament favourite Dean Burmester, who hit the opening tee shot of the newly-named DP World Tour, is seven shots off the pace after an opening 72.

Compatriot JC Ritchie made a hole-in-one on the par-three 17th but cruelly missed out on winning the Jag- uar XJR parked behind the tee, the prize only being on offer for the first ace in rounds three or four.

Meanwhile, England’s Hannah Burke lies a shot off the lead after the first round of the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana. Burke carded three birdies and a solitary bogey at Los Naranjos Golf Club as Belgium’s Manon De Roey, France’s Anne-Lise Caudal and Spain’s Fatima Fernandez Cano set the pace on three under par.

Solheim Cup star Carlota Ciganda, Sweden’s Linda Wessberg and Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher were alongside Burke on two under, with Race to Costa del Sol champion Atthaya Thitikul on level par. South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace made a hole-inone on the parthree eighth but had to settle for an opening 73 following a double-bogey seven on the 18th.