Cabrera Bello bellows in delight as eagle sends him top of tree
HONG KONG: Rafa Cabrera Bello fired a stunning eagle at his final hole for a flawless 6-under-par 64 to take a one shot lead after the opening round of the Hong Kong Open at Fanling yesterday.
The Spaniard had already picked up four birdies when he lined up his approach shot at the par-4 10th, firing the ball a foot past the pin and watching as it spun back into the hole.
The 32-year-old launched his club into the air in celebration of a round that gave him the lead ahead of Frenchman Sebastien Gros, who was second after carding a 5-birdie 65.
“That was really nice, I had perfect distance and I was surprised to see it go in,” Cabrera Bello said.
“I have never really finished a round like that. I played really smart today, made very few mistakes, I hit pretty much every green, I putted really well, so it was a nice walk out there.”
Ten players shared third place at the European Tour co-sanctioned event after shooting 66s.
US Masters champion Danny Willett shot a 68, while his fellow Englishman Justin Rose bogeyed the last for a level par 70.
Another Englishman, former world No 5 Ian Poulter, also dropped a shot at the last to finish with a 68, fuming at the “mental errors” that cost him the three bogeys on his card.
“I’m rather annoyed, I’ll probably have to go a padded room for about an hour and then I’ll be alright,” he said.
“Over the last few years, I’ve made way too many mental errors and I’m getting frustrated on the course, which doesn’t help. I need to rectify it.” – Reuters