Oliver Bekker made four birdies on his opening nine on Thursday to card a four-under-par 66 in the first round of the DP World Tour’s and PGA Tour’s Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland.
Bekker also made a bogey on the 14th after teeing off on the 10th, and he picked up one more birdie after the turn, on the first, as he finished the first 18 holes in a share of seventh. He was five shots behind the leader, Byeong Hun An of Korea, who had a superb bogey-free nine-under-par 61 to lead by two from Riley Davis of the United States. Thomas Detry of Belgium and Rpry McIlroy shared third on six-under.
Bekker shared fourth with seven other players, including Max Homa of the United States, who showed a welcome return to form.
Garrick Higgo and South African Open champion Thriston Lawrence were a further shot back on three-under-par in a share of 15th together with nine other players, including Ricky Fowler and Robert MacIntyre.
Zander Lombard was on two-under in a share of 26th with US Open champion Wyndham Clark and world number one Scottie Scheffler, while Ockie Strydom and Christiaan Bezuidenhout were on one-under in a share of 46th.
Erik van Rooyen and Justin Walters were on two-over, while Dylan Frittelli’s quadruple-bogey eight on the fourth saw him slight to an eight-over-par 78 for his opening round.
