Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti shared a new course record but it was Sweden’s Peter Hanson timely bursting back to form on day one of the Centenary Dutch Open at Hilversum.
Jacquelin, 38 grabbed an eagle and five birdies in his five under par tally to match a 65 he set on the first day of the event two years ago.
French ace Raphael Jacquelin delighted after grabbing a share of a new course record on day one of the 2012 Dutch Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
However as both the 2010 and 2011 tournaments here at Hilversum were played under a ‘preferred lie’ rule for a first time since major changes to course in 2009 it means Jacquelin and Zanotti’s score is the new official Hilversumsche course low.
Zanotti, who had a bogey free round of 65, continued his fondness for the Dutch event having finished joint runner-up in 2010.
While Jacquelin has won three times on the European Tour, the 29-year old Asuncion-born Zanotti, and currently ranked 212th in the world, is chasing a first Tour victory.
Five players share third place on four under par at lunch and among them is European Ryder Cup star, Peter Hanson of Sweden.
Hanson had struggled last week in Switzerland finishing in a share of 59th place and 18 shots behind Scotland’s Richie Ramsay.
However he showed a welcome return to form coming down from the Alps to the flat Dutch landscape.
“It felt pretty good as I was putting well and trying to keep the ball in play,” he said.
“This course is pretty narrow and starting to firm up a bit. So I was happy with the way I struck it and I managed to find some putts. It was a steady first round.”
And with the Dutch event Hanson’s last prior to the Ryder Cup he knows the importance of playing well before heading to Medinah.
“It is very important,” he said.
“I have had about six weeks to prepare for the Ryder Cup after the US PGA and this is the middle of it.
“Last week was up and down and I shouldn’t say too much after one round but I drove it much better today and putted well. The long game has cost me a lot of shots recently.
“But it is a funny feel because we work so much this week, in the gym and practising so much
“I spent at least ten hours on this range which is unusual for a tournament week but it is all about preparation and we still have two and a half weeks before we get to Chicago and it is all about getting everything into place physically and mentally to be ready when we start.
“So I will be trying not to think too much about the result this week. You want a good result as you want to build confidence but sometimes it is too much to ask to practise that much and get a really good result.”
And Hanson joined others also expressing surprise at the exclusion of Hunter Mahan from the USA Ryder Cup team and overlooked in favour of rookie Brandt Snedeker.
“They are all great players and if you look at Stricker and Johnson they are playing well,” he said.
“Maybe Mahan was a surprise but his form hasn’t been as good as earlier in the year but they have four good picks and we know it will be a tough match playing away.
“So I see the contest at his stage even.
“It was good for us to have such a good PGA. That was crucial for us to find some form.
“In the middle of summer it was looking good for them. It is going to be so much fun though and I am really looking forward to playing an away match.
“Last time we had so much support and it will be great to see the other side of that.”
