Justin Walters carded an opening four-under-par 68 on Thursday to be just two shots off the lead after the first round of the DP World Tour’s Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett at The Belfry.
He made an eagle, five birdies and three bogeys, and was in a share of sixth with three other players, including countryman Brandon Stone. The lead was held by Dane Thorbjorn Olesen and Ryan Fox of New Zealand. The duo led by one from Hurly Long, Ashun Wu and Richie Ramsay.
Stone made six birdies and two bogeys in his best start in a while, while up ahead, Olesen was bogey-free and Fox had just a single bogey on his scorecard.
Justin Harding was the next-best of the South Africans on two-under in a share of 17th, and George Coetzee was a shot further back in a share of 29th together with Daniel van Tonder. Thriston Lawrence and Zander Lombard were on level-par, and Hennie du Plessis, JC Ritchie and Richard Sterne were on one-over. Dean Burmester and Oliver Bekker battled to three-over in a share of 116th, Darren Fichardt was on four-over and Haydn Porteous on five-over.
