Twenty-year old Chinese golfing sensation Wenyi Ding celebrated his South African born caddies birthday, posting a super bogey-free round of a seven-under 63 to share the lead on seven-under with England’s Jordan Smith after the opening day of the co-sanctioned Joburg Open.
Ding, a competing in the event as a full DP World Tour member, was very impressive birdieing three of his opening four holes and after five pars he headed into his back-9 with four further birdies.
This week’s event is Ding’s 15th DP World Tour tournament but in a New Year as a full member of the Tour having secured his card as the inaugural winner of the Global Amateur Pathway ranking last year, announcing himself on the big stage with a joint-fifth finish at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open prior to the Festive Season break.
Twenty-year old Wenyi Ding brilliantly shares the lead after day one of the co-sanctioned Joburg Open. (Image – DP World Tour)
The World No. 527 ranked Ding said: “I played pretty well today. Some short irons gave me a lot of birdie chances and I made a lot of putts.”
When asked if having a South African caddie with plenty of local knowledge helped him, Ding added: “He was great. It’s his birthday today and I promised I’d give him a trophy this week!”
Smith was also out early and joined Ding in the lead also with a bogey-free 63.
England’s John Parry, and who went so close to second Tour win last fortnight in Kenya, is the highest ranked in the field at World No. 93 but he struggled under the weight of a two-over 72.
