ZAMBIA, Kitwe – Haydn Porteous’ love for golf in Zambia shone through as he led the first round of the Mopani Zambia Open at the Nkana Golf Club on Thursday.
Porteous, the Sunshine Tour’s Comeback Player of the Year last season, made a strong statement with his opening five-under-par 67 to lead by one stroke over Chile’s Martin Leon.
The South African has a strong record in Zambia, having finished tied fifth and tied fourth here before.
Porteus took advantage of an early tee time on a challenging Nkana Golf Club course. The South African, who teed off on the 10th, rolled in four birdies on his way out before adding another birdie on his second nine for the lead.
But only 14 golfers in the field were able to shoot under par on day one.
“I’m really happy with my round today. To go bogey-free is always good, no matter where you are. The course played quite tricky as it was very firm, but I chipped and scrambled well and took the opportunities that were given to me,” Porteus said.
The Chilean Leon ended his front nine with three birdies in a row before adding four more birdies on his back nine to briefly take the overall lead. But a double bogey on his last hole pushed him into second place.
But Porteous is looking to build on the momentum of his victory in last year’s Vodacom Origins of Golf at Gowrie Farm that ended a lengthy win drought.
“I’m all-in-all very happy with my game and hopefully I can keep going for the next three rounds,” he said.
South Africa’s Rigardt Albertse and Pierre Viallaneix from France opened with respective rounds of three-under-par 69 and are in joint third place.
Defending champion Samuel Simpson signed for a three-over-par 75. – Michael Vlismas Media
