Pieter Moolman finished with six consecutive birdies to lead the way after the first round of the 2024 D+D REAL Czech Masters.
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The South African posted a round of 64, eight under par, to leave himself a shot clear of the field on another hot day at PGA National OAKS Prague.
England’s Brandon Robinson-Thompson, who won last week’s Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A on the Challenge Tour, is part of a six-way tie for second with Swede Jesper Svensson, Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, South Korea’s Sung Kang and German pair Maximilian Rottluff and Maximilian Kieffer, the latter of whom won this event in 2022.
Moolman quickly cancelled out each of his opening two birdies but back-to-back gains around the turn gave some indication of what was to come.
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The two-time Sunshine Tour winner carded pars at the 11th and 12th before bursting into life from the 13th as he took advantage of the par five with an 11-foot putt and never looked back.
He holed from 36 feet at the next, put his approach at the 15th inside four feet and went close to eagle at the 16th, another par five, before settling for yet another birdie.
The 33-year-old just held the 17th green before holing from 31 feet and an accurate approach at the last ensured it was six of the best, and an eight-under-par total to set the course record at PGA National OAKS Prague.
Robinson-Thompson would have shared for the lead but for an overhit bunker shot at the last, leading to a free drop from the hospitality tent and the only bogey of a seven-under-par round.
The group at six under features Frenchmen Julien Guerrier and Adrien Saddier, Spain’s Adri Arnaus, Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia, German Jannik De Bruyn and England’s Sam Bairstow.
Player quotes
Pieter Moolman: “I hit some good shots, but you’re not shooting 29 if you’re not making putts. The putter was definitely involved, but just staying patient giving yourself chances.
“The front nine is a bit open, you can bomb it a bit. The back nine is the tougher one where you have to really hit some good shots, give yourself good opportunities. I think the course is gettable, but you still need to hit the shots, you still need to make the putts.”
Jesper Svensson: “It was very solid overall today. I struck the ball very well, which was nice since. The confidence hasn’t really been there the last couple of tournaments.
“I didn’t hole that many long putts but played nicely, played smart. There were a couple of tough pins which you get tempted to go for but if you’re on the wrong side, you’re going to have a very, very difficult up and down. So yeah, now it’s just a lot of patience.”
Brandon Robinson-Thompson: “It’s such a nice golf course. We had a bit of a messy spell there in the morning with the weather, but the sun finally came out. I managed a lot of good shots and I rolled the putter really nicely again today.
“Funny you should ask. I hit it right down the middle. Fatted it into the bunker and then if it didn’t hit the grandstand, I think it would have gone 100 yards over the green. Dropped it out the VIP tent and then holed an 18 footer for bogey. Kind of pleased with that finish, but also a bit annoying but it is what it.”
Max Kieffer: “I’m very pleased. We had three weeks off so you don’t always know where your game is. It looks like it’s in a good position, good shape, so I’m very happy.
“My irons and putting was very good today. I didn’t drive it that well actually, which is normally my strength. My iron game has been really good, very straight and the putting was very good today.
“I really like it here. Great memories. The same boards, the same grandstands, you see the same people, so even though it’s a different golf course, it still feels like I had success here before, so it’s a nice feeling.
