Wilco Nienaber made an eagle on the 16th hole on Thursday as he carded a four-under-par 68 in the first round of the Challenge Tour’s British Challenge at St Mellion Estate in Cornwall, England.
Nienaber had made five birdies and three bogeys up until that point, and the eagle helped him end the round positively in a share of fourth place. He was two shots off the lead which was held by Marc Hammer of Germany. Hammer’s six-under was one stroke clear of Italy’s Matteo Manassero and Jonathan Caldwell of Northern Ireland. Nienaber shared fourth with two other players.
Brandon Stone was just one shot back on three-under in a share of seventh after he, too, eagled the 16th with four birdies and three bogeys already on his card.
Luke Jerling, Jaco Prinsloo and JJ Senekal were on one-under in a share of 34th, while Darren Fichardt was on level-par in a share of 50th.
Keenan Davidse opened with a five-over 77, as did the Challenge Tour’s number one, Casey Jarvis.
