Australia&aposs Richard Green is just two shots behind Norwegian leader Espen Kofstad after the first day of play in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor. Kofstad carded a seven-under 64 on Thursday at the European Tour event, giving him the early advantage. Green and Englishman Chris Wood are tied for second at five under, but the day belonged to Kofstad, who stormed home to claim the lead, hitting three birdies and an eagle from his final four holes. “I kept hitting the shots and they came off in the end,” the 26-year-old said. “I got a little lucky I suppose holing a long putt on the 17th and the bunker shot on the last. I was only trying to get it ten to 15 feet past the hole because it was a tough shot.” Kofstad started with two birdies in a row, but bogeys on the ninth and 14th – sandwiched by two further birdies – left him in the middle of the field before his barnstorming finish. Green, who finished in a tie for sixth at the Alstom Open de France last month, was blemish-free in his round, shooting five birdies in a 67. Wood hit three birdies on the front nine and added an eagle on the par-four 15th, before finishing with a birdie. South African Tjaart Van Der Walt, Englishman Mark Foster and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy are tied for fourth at four under. Foster and Bourdy both carded six birdies and two bogeys in their round, while Van Der Walt finished well to climb the leaderboard. England&aposs Robert Rock and Argentinean Emiliano Grillo are tied for seventh at three under, with a group of six players a further shot adrift in a tie for ninth. Defending champion Thongchai Jaidee is tied for 27th after shooting an even-par 71, but big names Darren Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez struggled and posted seven over rounds of 78. Meanwhile, Andrew Dodt is the next best out of the Australian contingent after shooting an even-par 71. Countrymen Brett Rumford and Scott Arnold could only manage rounds of 72.
Author: Omnisport