GEORGE, South Africa, 16 December 2005 — Tim Clark made a superb start to his defense of his South African Open title when he equaled the course-record with a first round 68 yesterday.
Clark’s five-under-par score was enough to grab the early lead on the par-73 course as he took advantage of relatively calm conditions to shoot an eagle, four birdies and just one bogey.
Sweden’s Henrik Nystrom was in second place after a 69 that included three bogeys and seven birdies with compatriot Mattias Eliasson third after a three-under 70.
Clark’s round equaled the record set by fellow South Africans Steve van Vuuren, Hennie Otto and Thomas Aiken.
“I got lucky because the wind was not a factor, but you still had to hit good tee shots,” Clark told reporters. “The idea today was to hit fairways because if you hit it in the wrong spot, you could get any number.
“I certainly was not attacking the flags today. I was very cautious, hitting away from the flags and getting on the safe side.” Clark, who started his round at the 10th hole, came to the 18th on one-under but got a tremendous boost when his three-wood second shot roared to within 12 feet of the flag and he sank the putt for an eagle.
Further birdies on the second, third and eighth holes left him in line for the overall course record but he bogeyed his final hole, the ninth.
World number four Retief Goosen battled to a level-par 73 that included two double-bogeys, while his fellow high profile South Africans Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman had yet to tee off.
Miyazato Misery on Debut Against Men
OkinawA, Japan, women’s golf sensation Ai Miyazato crashed to a dreadful nine-over-par 80 at the Asia-Japan-Okinawa Open yesterday in a nightmare first round on her debut against the men. Miyazato, the first Japanese woman to play in a men’s tournament, got off to a bad start with bogeys at 11 and 12 after starting on the 10th tee. Things were looking up with a birdie on 14 before Miyazato, 20, slumped to a triple-bogey on 15 and dropped another shot two holes later.The Okinawa native, who is playing on a sponsor’s invite, restricted the damage to two-over on her inward nine before a demoralizing double-bogey at the last.
Fijian Dinesh Chand shared the first-round lead with local favorite Kaname Yokoo in cold and windy conditions for the event, which opens the 2006 Japanese and Asian Tours.
The big-hitting Chand and Yokoo, who have a combined seven titles in Japan, fired matching six-under-par 65s to lead former Okinawa Open champion Hiroyuki Fujita by one stroke.
Another local stalwart Kenichi Kuboya was fourth with a 67 at the Naha Golf Club.
Miyazato’s brother Kiyoshi, the defending champion, was lurking in fifth position with 68 alongside Australians Chris Campbell and Richard Moir and American Jason Knutzon.
Starting from the 10th, Chand turned in 32 with three birdies but dropped his only bogey at the par-five second hole.
