Grace on song at Leopard Creek
Branden Grace fired spectacular first round 62 at to take the lead at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Grace carded 10 birdies in a blemish free round at the Leopard Creek Country Club to open-up a three shot lead over fellow South African Jake Roos who is playing in his first tournament as a full European Tour member.
The 26-year-old Grace has had top-25 finishes in his last six starts, but found another gear as he raced to ten under par.
“I hit the ball superbly from the start to the finish,” said Grace told the European Tour’s official website.
“I can’t remember the last time I hit 18 greens in a row, which is pretty nice, especially around this place where there are some daunting approaches. It’s a good feeling going into the rest of the tournament.”
Meanwhile Roos, who claimed the 15th and last place available on The Race to Dubai via last season’s Challenge Tour, is one clear of last week’s Nedbank Challenge winner Danny Willett who is joined at six under by fellow Matt Ford.
Roos started the day on a very positive note when he holed a five iron for an eagle two at the tenth.”
“I felt comfortable and swung quite nicely,” said Roos.
“I hit a lot of good shots and had a lot of short birdie putts on my front nine, and I was able to take advantage of a couple.
Latest
-
PGA ChampionshipMatt Fitzpatrick: Falling short at US PGA Championship ‘hurts a hell of a lot’
Fitzpatrick carded a closing three-over-par 73 to miss out on the play-off between eventual winner Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris by two shots.
-
PGA ChampionshipJustin Thomas pays tribute to caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after his US PGA victory
Phil Mickelson’s former bagman gave Thomas a crucial pep talk after he shot 74 on Saturday.
-
PGA ChampionshipTommy Fleetwood confident he is ‘coming out the other side’ after dip in form
Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA ChampionshipEmotional Justin Thomas credits his experience for US PGA victory
Thomas also won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.
-
PGA ChampionshipJustin Thomas eclipses Will Zalatoris in play-off to claim second US PGA title
The former world number one’s victory equalled the biggest comeback in US PGA history.
-
PGA ChampionshipRory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment
McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters.
-
PGA ChampionshipPaul McGinley says Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’
The 46-year-old withdrew from a major championship for the first time in his professional career at Southern Hills.
-
PGA ChampionshipMito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA ChampionshipMatt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA ChampionshipTiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.