This week’s stop on the European Tour is a fantastic chance to watch golf and amazing animals in the wild at the Leopard Creek Country Club, which is bordered by the Kruger National Preserve.
The European Tour remains in South Africa for the Alfred Dunhill Championship and that’s a good thing with golf in the U.K. shut down.
Poland’s Adrian Meronk and Robin Roussel from France were tied for the day one lead after shooting seven-under par 65s on Thursday.
Roussel best run of the day came starting at the 10th hole when he reeled off five consecutive birdies then added another at the 18th to finish his day.
Roussel, a graduate of the Challenge Tour, credited his caddie, a local looper at Leopard Creek. “I started the round pretty well so that put me a little bit in confidence,” he said. “I had a bunch of good birdies and good putts especially. I’m lucky to have Army (Army Nathi Mdluli) on the bag, who is a local so he gets to read the greens pretty well. And he helped a lot. I had quality putts on the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th. I think without him I wouldn’t have been able to put all these in. But yeah, good drives, good iron shots and good putts so I’m quite happy.”
Meronk’s round featured two eagles, four birdies and a single bogey. Scotland’s Scott Jamieson was a shot back of the co-leaders after shooting 66.
England’s John Bland was in solo fourth with an opening round of 67.
Friday Update: Meronk followed up with a 66 on Friday and got to 13-under par, three shots better than last week’s winner — Joachim Hansen (64) and England’s Richard Bland (67).
