Dean Burmester dropped two shots in the last two holes on Thursday in the opening round of the Asian Tour’s International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf in Muscat, Oman, and he ended up signing for a three-under-par 69.
That put him four shots off the lead which was held by Spain’s David Puig, another player from the LIV fold. Puig had a one-stroke lead over Joaquin Niemann of Chile, also from LIV, and two more players from the breakaway circuit, Mito Perreira of Chile and Carlos Ortiz of Mexico, were in a share of third with two others at five-under-par.
Burmester made a third bogey in his round, on the front nine when he dropped a shot on the eighth. But he picked up six birdies in a round during which he his just seven of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens in regulation.
In a share of 14th with Burmester was, amongst others, compatriot Jbe’ Kruger, as well as Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent. Vincent’s brother Kieran was a shot further back on two-under in a share of 26th.
Louis Oosthuizen signed for a one-under 71 and a share of 37th, together with Jaco Ahlers. Branden Grace was on level-par in 59th while Ian Snyman and Charl Schwartzel were on two-over in a share of 91st. David Meyers brought up the rear for the South Africans in the field with his three-over putting him in 108th.
