The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Blairgowrie golfer Bradley Neil was part of a four-strong group on five under par after the first round of the South African Open in Johannesburg yesterday.
Blairgowrie star Neil in the spotlight as he makes superb recovery from double bogey to tie for fourth after opening round of the BMW SA Open in Johannesburg
Bradley Neil made a fine start to 2018 with a five-under 67 in the BMW SA Open leaving him in a tie for fourth after the opening round at Glendower Golf Club.
The former Amateur champion from Blairgowrie, who will be 22 next Tuesday, graduated from the Challenge Tour to the main European Tour last season and made the cut at the Hong Kong Open with his first start as a fully-fledged cardholder last November.
After a festive break he shot his best round to date since getting his full rights, and it was a rollercoaster ride for the rookie.
He opened with three birdies in his first four holes, dropping a shot at the fifth before recapturing the lost stroke at the par five seventh.
However a double bogey at the 401-yard ninth threatened to derail a promising round, only for Neil to hole out from the fairway at the tough 477-yard 10th for an eagle two and an immediate repair to his scorecard.
Bradley added birdies at the 13th and 16th and when he got to the clubhouse at the end of the morning wave of starters he was in third place on his own, two behind fellow Challenge Tour graduate and early leader Chase Koepka, the younger brother of US Open champion Brooks.
The afternoon wave of starters, however, included many of the local favourites including world No 30 Branden Grace, the highest-ranked player in the field, and the former Dunhill Links champion had three eagles in his 65 to tie Koepka.
Grace lived up to his billing as pretournament favourite by claiming a share of the lead.
He carded three eagles, three birdies and two bogeys in an opening 65 to join American Chase Koepka at the top of the leaderboard on seven under par – two shots ahead of Neil and Co.
“I can’t remember when, or if, I’ve ever made three eagles in a round but it was fun,” said Grace, who eagled the second, eighth and 15th, all of them par fives.
“I was a little bit rusty with some of the wedge shots but all in all very pleased with the outcome and I think I pretty much got the most out of that round.
“It’s a great start to 2018 and it’s always nice to play back in South Africa. The people are here to support us and it’s great to have all the top South African guys here.”
Koepka, whose brother Brooks won the US Open last year, had set the early clubhouse target after a round containing seven birdies, an eagle and two bogeys, with England’s Chris Paisley a shot off the pace following a 66.
“I think I played flawless except for the second shot to the first hole,” Koepka said.
“I hit a poor shot and saved about a 12-footer for bogey there so it was big to start off my round. Starting off with a double in a tournament doesn’t feel good; making that bogey I felt like I at least picked up a shot because it could have been worse.
“Then I hit a nice shot to the second and made eagle and kind of kept it rolling from there.”
Paisley, who is seeking his first European Tour title, said: “You never know how it’s going to go, even though I’ve been playing well in practice.
“I hit a lot of shots really close and didn’t have to hole many long putts. I drove it really well, which gave me a chance to get it close.”
Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who blew a four-shot lead with five holes to play in this event three years ago, is four shots off the lead after an opening 69. Two-times Open champion Ernie Els lies two shots further back after a first round 71.
Three other Scots are also in the field. David Drysdale is level par, Marc Warren is one over while Doug Mcguigan endured a miserable day with an seven-over par 79 – 14 shots off the joint leaders.