Miguel Angel Jimenez continued his strong recent form to hold the lead at the end of the opening day of the Dutch Open. The 49-year-old carded a six-under-par round of 64 on Thursday to head the leaderboard at the tournament in Zandvoort, the Netherlands. Jimenez, who has secured top-five finishes in two of his last four events, made a superb start at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club, sinking birdies on four of the first nine holes, dropping one shot at the sixth hole. The Spaniard bogeyed at the 10th, but responded excellently by gaining another four shots on the back nine, and pleased the crowd with his birdie at the 16th as he holed with his approach effort. Jimenez, whose last victory came at the Hong Kong Open in November 2012, was delighted with his performance, and is hoping to maintain a tradition of Spanish winners at the competition. “When the sun came out I started to play my best golf,” Jimenez said. “Holing my wedge shot from 40 metres on the 16th was very nice, then the birdie on the last was a great way to finish. I&aposm very happy. “I played very well last week (at the European Masters), so I expected to play well again here. “Seve (Ballesteros)&aposs first win on the European Tour was here in 1976, and Jose Maria (Olazabal) also won here in 1989, so hopefully I can win here too. That would be fantastic.” Six players are tied for second place at five under, with Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti, New Zealander Robert Allenby and Ireland&aposs Damien McGrane – who all produced eagles at the 12th – among them. Scotsman Gary Orr, Spain&aposs Pablo Larrazabal and Englishman David Howell are also in contention with the same score. World No.97 Paul Casey is still very much in the hunt at two under, despite bogeys on the final two holes, but BMW PGA Championship winner Matteo Manassero has work to do after shooting level par in his first round. Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts is in danger of missing the cut, the world No.51 fell to three over par after failing to recover from a triple bogey at the ninth.
Author: Omnisport