Three-way lead for Lamprecht, Fleetwood and Grillo
The seaside links course at Royal Liverpool in Merseyside, England looked absolutely divine yesterday with blue skies and sunshine for the golfing greats in the first round of the 151st Open Championship. And what a tournament it is set to be with a surprising trio of leaders nestled on 5-under par. Early starter was an amateur from South Africa, Christo Lamprecht. The 22-year old was in number one spot and eventually finished in a tie for first with a delighted Tommy Fleetwood from England and an equally thrilled player from Argentina, Emiliano Grillo.
The lofty amateur Christo Lamprecht earned himself a place in the Open Championship after he won the Amateur Championship in June. After six holes he stood at 3-under par at Royal Liverpool and four holes later still topped the leaderboard at 10-under. The golfing greats were on his tail but few really challenged the 6 foot 8 inch giant, apart from Fleetwood and Grillo.
Fleetwood is hot!
England’s Tommy Fleetwood was on fire on day one. He holed birdie putts at the 14th, 15th and 16th to get into a share of the lead with Lamprecht on 5-under par. The 32 year old from Southport, Merseyside is a local lad for many in the crowds at Hoylake. And, although he has still to win a Major, his presence in a tournament always brings a tinge of excitement. His opening 66 is his best start in a Major.
Emiliano Grillo from Argentina was the third player in the three-way lead. The 30-year old got off to a rather scruffy start with two bogeys in the first three holes but then fired-up his game with seven birdies from there on to shoot a super 66.
An early starter was England’s Matthew Jordan who teed-off first on Thursday. The 27-year old professional is a local lad who boasts Hoylake as his home course. In this his second Open, he inspired the spectators with a solid round of golf which included four birdies and two bogeys which secured him an impressive score of 2-under par.
But what about the golfing greats at Royal Liverpool? The dream group was, without a doubt, World Number One Jon Rahm from Spain, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and England’s Justin Rose. Well, the trio was present but not firing on all cylinders.
McIlroy arrived at Royal Liverpool clutching the Scottish Open trophy which he won by one stroke from Robert MacIntyre last week. It could take him another day to come on form, but he made a tremendous par at the 18th hole yesterday after his ball plopped into one of the tiny and very deep pot bunkers near the green. The first shot stayed in the bunker and the second finished a pop-in distance from the hole whilst he was standing precariously on one leg. The par made his day giving him fresh hope for a round in the sixties on Friday.
Jon Rahm was struggling too. He made one sole birdie at the 10th hole which was sadly accompanied by four bogeys. Alas Rahm finished with 3-over par.
Defending Champion
The defending champion Cameron Smith from Australia struck a perfect tee-shot at the first hole to make birdie. However, the birdie trail was rather hit and miss as he made five bogeys too for a 1-over par tally.
Dutchman Joost Luiten had a keen eye on Christo Lamprecht on Thursday. He was playing in his group. The 37-year old is playing in his eighth Open Championship and hopes that his level par start will give his career a much-needed boost.
Playing in his first Open Championship, Christo Lamprecht produced a wonderful round which included seven birdies and two bogeys. The birdie at the par 5, 18th hole was the icing on the cake for the South African amateur. Whether he can hold on to his lead for three more rounds is maybe a litte doubtful. Tommy Fleetwood and Emiliano Grillo will be challenging him … just as the rest of the world’s golfing greats will be.
Enjoy the Open!
Wendy Hoad
Editor
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: England’s Tommy Fleetwood is hot in the Open.