Jacques Kruyswijk opened with a four-under-par 68 on Thursday in the first round of the Challenge Tour’s Open de Portugal at Royal Obidos Spa & Golf Resort in Obidos, Portugal to be in a share of ninth.
Kruyswijk made five birdies and a bogey, and was in an eight-way share of ninth, five strokes off the lead hich was held by Tomas Bessa of Portugal after the local carded a bogey-free 63. Bessa led by two from Marco Penge of England, and there were four players in a share of third on six-under. There were two more players ahead of Kruyswijk on five-under in a share of seventh.
Kruyswijk started his round on the 10th with a string of seven consecutive pars before making two birdies on 17 and 18 ahead of the turn. He made it three in a row with another birdie on the first, before dropping his only shot of the day on the fourth. He picked up his other two birdies on the fifth and the seventh.
Martin Vorster was the next-best of the South Africans in the field with his two-under-par 70 putting him in a share of 31st. Also on two-under was the Challenge Tour number one, Casey Jarvis.
Brandon Stone and Keenen Davidse each carded a one-under-par 71 for a share of 51st, while Jaco Prinsloo was in a share of 89th on one-over.
Darren Fichardt and JJ Senekal battled to three-over and a share of 121st.
