Erik van Rooyen began the defence of his World Wide Technology Championship on the PGA Tour with a four-under-par 68 on Thursday at the Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante in Mexico.
Van Rooyen, who won in emotional circumstances last year when he learnt of the impeding death of a close friend, made two late bogeys in trying windy conditions after he started his round on the 10th. He had made four birdies on the back nine, and two on the front before dropping shots on the sixth and the eighth.
In the end, he was just one stroke off the lead which was shared at five-under 67 by Americans Tom Whitney and Kevin Streelman with Rico Hoey of the Philippines. Van Rooyen shared fourth with Taylor Montgomery, Max Greyserman, Nate Lashley, Austin Eckroat, Kelly Kraft and Ryan McCormick.
“Completely different test than what we had last year,” Van Rooyen said. “There was maybe one club of wind last year.”
The round was suspended for darkness with just three players yet to complete the 18th.
Garrick Higgo opened with a solid two-under-par 70 with three birdies and a bogey on his card. That put him in a share of 25th.
