Scot Bradley Neil kick-started his golfing New Year with a bang holing his second shot for an eagle on route to a share of fourth place on dayScot Bradley Neil kick-started his golfing New Year with a bang holing his second shot for an eagle on route to a share of fourth place on day one of the BMW SA Open in Ekurhuleni, South Africa.

Neil, who turns 22 next Tuesday signed for a five-under par 67 that also included six birdies to be trailing just two shots behind the leading duo of South African favourite, Branden Grace and American Chase Koepka, the younger brother of reigning US Open champion, Brooks Koepka.

Scot Bradley Neil starts the New Year with a bang holing his second shot for an eagle 2′ on day one of the BMW SA Open.

Neil’s effort is his lowest score in nine rounds of the 2017/18 European Tour schedule and since earning full membership late last year at the Tour’s Q-School.

The former British Amateur champ had missed the cut in his first two events but earned a first pay cheque on the main Tour in his last event of 2017, the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Neil has now given himself an excellent springboard to add to his 67 over the closing three rounds in South Africa.
The young Scot had birdied his second to fourth holes, dropped a shot at the fifth but got back to three-under with a birdie on eight.

Neil then doubled the ninth, and the shortest par-4 on the Glendower course before brilliantly making amends in holing his second at the 436-yard par-4 10th hole.

He then delighted in birding the 13th and 16th holes.