Zander Lombard will take a one-stroke lead into the second round of the Soudal Open after carding a 63 at Rinkven International Golf Club on Thursday.
Related: Nicolas Colsaerts aiming for fairytale finish on home soil
It was an impressive opening round from the South African, whose near-faultless performance featured highlights aplenty to set the initial target at eight under par in Antwerp.
The 31-year-old came out firing on Belgian soil, capitalising on calm morning conditions to card five birdies and go out in 31. He carried the momentum into his back nine where he picked up another two shots at the 11th and 13th, before his only blemish of the day at the 15th.
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Lombard bounced back with consecutive birdies on his way home to take pole position after day one, one shot ahead of Jacob Skov Olesen and Richard Sterne.
Teeing off on the 10th, Olesen opened his account in a similar fashion, managing eight birdies, five of which came in a seven-hole stretch across the turn, and a solitary bogey to shoot a 64.
It was his equal lowest round total of the season to date, with the 26-year-old Dane eager to continue his form into Friday.
Sterne, the best of the afternoon groups, produced a bogey-free round of 64 to join him in a share of second late in the day. The 44-year-old opened his campaign with third birdies in as many holes, and managed another at the 17th – his eighth hole – before picking up a further three shots on his back nine.
France’s Tom Vaillant signed for a 65 to sit in solo fourth, while Scotland’s Cameron Adam was in a group at five under, alongside South African Thriston Lawrence, Spaniard Jorge Campillo, Frenchman Martin Couvra, Dane Jeff Winther, Italian Gregorio De Leo, Swedish duo Mikael Lindberg and Marcus Kinhult, and English trio Ben Schmidt, Andy Sullivan and Paul Waring.
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Thomas Detry led the Belgian contingent at home, recording a 68 to finish the day at three under par, while compatriot Nicolas Colsaerts marked the final opening round of his professional career with a 72.
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Englishman Eddie Pepperell marked his 300th start with a memorable moment after making an ace on the 15th hole.
Player quotes
Zander Lombard: It was really cool. Starting this morning, perfect weather conditions, no breeze, greens were rolling tremendously, so it was fun to post a score early in the week, and see what it has in store.
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I missed the fairway on seven and eight, and scrambled two good pars, and I think that kept the momentum to make an outside chance birdie on nine. That definitely kept the momentum going into that back nine, which, for me in my eye, is the tougher nine. I felt like I really controlled the ball well, and even when I did miss, I missed it well to give myself chances to save par. So, all in all, it was a smart round of golf with two bonus extra shots.
Massively (important to finish the round strong), especially going into tomorrow. I talk about a lot with my caddie – it’s just keeping that momentum, and I’ve just lacked momentum the last couple of tournaments. I’ve sort of played well for two out of the four rounds, and it’s going be nice to build on this for the week.
I think we all feed of each other (South African players). There’s good camaraderie out there, and we’re all mates. So when one wins, the next definitely wants to follow up.
