Austrian golfing giant Bernd Wiesberger desposited eight birdies including one at the last to snatch a one-stroke lead with a five-under par 67 on day one of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, South Africa.
Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger stands tall in grabbing eight birdies to lead by a shot with a five-under par 67 on day one of the 2017 Nedbank Challenge. (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
Wiesberger’s birdie saw him break clear of four players – Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, Scotland’s Scott Jamieson, American Julian Suri and local South African hero, Branden Grace – tied in second with four under par 68s.
Sweden’s and defending champion, Alex Noren had capped his round with an eagle ‘3’ at the 10th but let slip joining those in second place with a 17th hole bogey to settle for a four-way share of sixth with a three-under par 69.
Fortunately, Noren also managed to avoid any menacing crocodiles after an errant shot during a pre-tournament practice round came to rest nestled under the jaw of the sleeping giant.
Weisberger, 32 earlier this year captured a fourth Tour title with victory in the Shenzhen International and more recently he returned to China to secure a share of ninth in the WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
The Vienna-born golfer, however, arrived in South Africa finishing well down in 48th place in last week’s Turkish Airlines Open and managing to break 70 in just his first round at Antalya.
“I played well in Shanghai and it was conditions that I kind of prefer but then last week in Turkey I couldn’t quite keep up with the pace,” he said.
“Last week was a course where you need to make a lot more birdies and I didn’t quite do that last week so it got a bit frustrating.
“I just tried to clear my mind and was ready to go this week. I had a lot of rest time.
“I just tried to focus on the time when I was working on my game and not get too much into the heat and conserve energy for the four days out here, and it kind of paid off today for me.”
Dubuisson teed-up lying 73rd on the Race to Dubai and needing to be inside the top-60 at the close of the event to be assured of contesting next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
And the double Tour winner is buoyed having shared third place in last year’s Nedbank Challenge.
“I’ve been very good with my driver as I didn’t miss many fairways, maybe one or two, and that is the key to play well,” he said.
“I was third here a year ago so I really like this course. It suits my long game very well. I also feel very comfortable on the greens.
“My gaol this week is really to qualify for Dubai so it’s a good way to start the tournament.”
Also sharing third a year ago was Grace who was two-over par after back-t0-back bogeys at three and four before he regrouped superbly to play holes seven to 15 in six-under par.
Included in the six-time European Tour winner’s round was a 14th hole eagle.
“The is a grinder’s golf course and it’s one of those where you have to be aggressive when you can, and when you don’t have to, you don’t have to and it is why I like this golf course,” he said.
“This is the type of grass that I grew up playing, Kikuyu, and I just have fond memories of it. I’ve had a lot of wins on grass like this and courses like this.
“It also feels nice to be able to finish the day off with a good round and looking forward to the next couple days.”
And current European No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood has his work cut out if he is to extend his Race to Dubai lead over the absent Justin Rose in signing for a no frills one-over par 73.
