Clara man shoots a 67 to share eighth place, just three strokes off the pace, after opening round at Wentworth
Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg cruised to an eight-under-par 64 to share the lead with France’s Tom Vaillant, a shot clear of South Africa’s Casey Jarvis, as a 90-minute midday storm disrupted play.
The marquee trio of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Shane Lowry were the last group to finish in near darkness on a day when only Tommy Fleetwood (73) and Rasmus Hojgaard (74) struggled in windy and sometimes wet conditions.
Matt Fitzpatrick made eight birdies in a 66 to share fourth place, while Lowry made five birdies in his last seven holes and shot a 67 to share eighth with Justin Rose after almost spinning his 105-yard third to the 18th back into the hole for eagle.
The closing par-five was more of a struggle for Rahm and McIlroy, who both found the stream with their second shots.
McIlroy never hit top gear and despite a closing bogey, he putted well for a 69 to share 33rd with Tom McKibbin and Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton.
Rahm was three over with seven to play but fought back with four birdies for getting up and down for par at the last for a 71 that left him alongside Robert MacIntyre. Pádraig Harrington shot a 73.
At the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open, Lauren Walsh celebrated her 24th birthday by carding a five-under 66 to lie just two shots behind England’s Esme Hamilton at Golfpark Holzhausern.
“It’s my birthday too, so just all smiles all day,” Walsh said after making seven birdies to share third place.
Rookie Canice Screene was joint seventh after a 67, while a 68 left Sara Byrne just outside the top 10.
In the Kroger Queen City Championship in Ohio, Stephanie Meadow’s one-over 73 left her 10 shots behind Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen.
The cut is also a threat for Max Kennedy and Liam Nolan after they opened with one-under 70s to lie five shots off the lead in the Open de Portugal at Royal Obidos.
Nolan, who is ranked 30th in the season-long race for 20 DP World Tour cards, made six birdies while 31st-ranked Kennedy had just three as they ended the day joint 53rd.
Meanwhile, Naas’s Robert Brazill carded a five-under 67 to battle his way into position to make it through the First Stage of the DP World Tour Q-School.
He was tied for eighth on eight-under heading into the final round at the Northumberland Golf Club, just inside the top 14 and ties who qualify.
John-Ross Galbraith (31) shot 70 to lie solo fourth on 12-under, but Meath’s Daniel Mulligan was 43rd, nine shots outside the qualifying mark on one-over.
Connemara’s Luke O’Neill was two-over and 2019 Amateur champion James Sugrue three-over.
BMW PGA Championship, 8.30am
VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open, 2pm
Queen City Championship, 6pm
Procore Championship, 9pm
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