MUNICH, 30 August 2003 — Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin hit a 10-under par round of 62 for the second time in three weeks to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the BMW International Open here on Thursday.
The 39-year-old, who is seeking his first Tour win, equaled the course record when he sank 10 birdies on the Nord-Eichenried course. Defending champion Thomas Bjorn was in the chasing pack, having hit eight birdies in his final 10 holes, sharing second spot with Germany’s Marcel Siem and English pair Gary Emerson and David Howell after shooting 64s.
World No. 2 Ernie Els of South Africa hit a 68 with a round which included an eagle and five birdies but also three bogeys. It was Jacquelins second opening round of 62 this month after the Nordic Open three weeks ago.
Bjorn, chasing a title hat trick having also won in 2000 and 2002, made a slow start from the tenth with eight pars but he hit top gear on his back nine as he reeled off five birdies in succession to finish.
Langer Limits Ryder
Cup Participation
Bernhard Langer vowed yesterday to concentrate on his new role of captaining the European team in the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills ruling out an appearance on the playing side.
“To do both of them is impossible regardless of whether I qualify or not,” Langer told a press conference in Eichenried, near Munich where this week’s BMW International Open European Tour event is being held.
Two-time masters champion Langer insisted naming a Ryder Cup vice-captain was not on the urgent list. “I am not in any rush because the vice-captain does not have to do anything until 2004,” added Langer.
The 12-man European Ryder Cup team will consist of the five best players on the European money list, with the five highest points scorers on the Ryder Cup World list joined by two wild cards.
“That is the fairest solution as far as I am concerned,” said Langer. Langer became the first German to be handed the honor of leading the European team succeeding Sam Torrance for whom he played at the Belfry last September when Europe regained the Ryder Cup in stunning fashion.
A veteran of the European Ryder Cup team, Langer, who celebrated his 46th birthday on Wednesday, has made 10 Ryder Cup appearances, second only behind Nick Faldo.
Next year’s tournament reverts to the United States, where Langer is based, and the German will go head to head with American captain Hal Sutton at the Oakland Hills course in Michigan from Sept. 17 to 19.
Kung Grabs Two-Shot
Lead at LPGA Event
In Springfield, Illinois, Taiwan’s Candie Kung seized a two-stroke lead after the first round of the $1.2 million LPGA event on Thursday, carding a bogey-free 8-under-par 64. The round didn’t start the way Kung would have liked. She couldn’t even keep her eyes open. “I was almost falling asleep,” said Kung, 22. “But I just kept myself in there and played hole-by-hole and ended up at 8-under. I am happy with that.”
Red-hot Hee-Won Han of South Korea is alone in second after shooting a bogey-free 66, a stroke better than Pat Hurst, Michelle McGann, Tammie Green, Kristi Albers and Leslie Spalding.
Fifty-four of the 144 players to finish broke par at The Rail Golf Club, which has hosted the tournament each of its 29 seasons and has yielded winning scores of at least 16-under five of the last six years.
