Scotland’s Ewan Ferguson drew on fond host golf course memories to lead the Scottish challenge after the opening day of the Soudal Open outside of Antwerp in Belgium.
Ferguson bounced back from a 15th hole to bogey to birdie the 16th in an eventual round of a four-under 67 in bright but windy conditions on the host Rinkven International course.
The reigning Qatar Masters champ finished third on the same course at the 2019 Belgian Knockout, and in a season with four other secondary Challenge Tour top-10s that helped the now 25-year-old secure his main Tour card.
Scot Ewan Ferguson draws of fond memories of having finished third on this week’s host course in Belgium
Ferguson said: “I played nice today, and I was working on a lot of low shots as it’s quite windy above the trees, so I managed to do that well today.
“I was looking forward to coming back here to Antwerp as I played well in finishing third three years ago, and it kind of also reminds a bit like Gleneagles back home, on a nice day.
“So, I felt quite familiar out there in my surroundings and just try and enjoy it as much as I can”.
Ferguson highlighted his round with five birdies and his only blemish being a dropped shot at the par-3 15th but he immediately bounced back in holing a seven-footer for birdie at the par-4 16th.
Fifer and good friend, Connor Syme was one back in posting a 68 but after a hat-trick of birdies from the 12th, it was rough finish in doubling the last.
Syme, and off the 10th, bogeyed the opening hole, and superbly ignited his drive to the top with three birdies in succession from his 12th hole, and then moved to just one off the then lead at five-under in sending a nine-footer to the bottom of the cut at the 16th or the seventh hole on the card, but only to give shots back at his last afer finding the rough ff the tee.
The Drumoig golfer arrived in Belguim on a high in sharing second place last week with fellow Scot Richie Ramsay at the BetFred British Masters, as Syme seeks that long overdue maiden Tour title.
After his round the former Crail Battle Trophy winner said: “Finishing with a double-bogey leaves a sour taste, as I really played solid all my around. So overal, quite happy.
“Looking back on last week, I left with a lot of confidence that I brought into this week. It’s good to know that thinks you have worked on were strong coming down those last few holes, as I hit some quality golf shots.
“You really don’t know how you are going to handle it until you are in that situation, and I feel as though I played pretty well and I, as said, took a lot from that finish and for the rest of the season”.
This year is the 55th hosting of what was known as the Belgian Open, and first played in 1910, and won three times by a Scot though the last being in 1949 when legendary Troon golfer Jimmy Adams, two-time runner-up in The Open and four-time Ryder Cupper.
Ferguson and Syme have a long way to go before matching Adam’s career, but the young Scottish duo are off to a decent start
