By Ken Borland
GEORGE, South Africa Jan 19 (Reuters) – Belgian
Nicolas Colsaerts peppered the flags at the Fancourt Links to
fire a course-record 64 and streak four shots clear of the field
after the Volvo Golf Champions first round on Thursday.
While Colsaerts was producing his nine-under-par effort,
U.S. Masters champion Charl Schwartzel struggled to a 75 and
triple major winner Ernie Els returned a 71.
“Today was as easy as you’re going to find it,” South
African Els told reporters at the 35-man tournament that brings
together last season’s European Tour winners.
“This course has got a lot of teeth and it has not shown it
yet. When the wind comes up it makes a huge difference and this
course becomes a totally different animal.”
Colsaerts made full use of the conditions as he opened a
four-shot lead over last week’s Joburg Open winner Branden Grace
and his fellow South African Thomas Aiken and Briton Tom Lewis.
The Belgian, who registered his first European Tour win by
landing the China Open title in April, birdied all four
par-threes as he eclipsed the previous record of 67 set by
Patrick O’Brien at the 2006 South African Open.
“I’ve never birdied all the par-threes on a course before
and you don’t see that on a scorecard that often,” said
Colsaerts.
The 29-year-old had four successive birdies around the turn
and then closed with four birdies in a row to come home in 30
shots.
Continued…
