George Coetzee carded a three-under-par 68 on Thursday to be in a share of 11th after the first round of the DP World Tour’s Cazoo Open de France at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France.
Coetzee made five birdies and two bogeys, and was six shots off the pace which was set by Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard. Hojgaard started with a birdie, bogeyed the second and then made nine more birdies to lead by two from Alexander Bjork of Sweden and three from Paul Barjon of France. There were five players on five-under-par in a share of fourth.
Coetzee shared 11th with nine other players, including Alex Fitzpatrick, the younger brother of US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.
Zander Lombard was a shot further back after an opening two-under-par 69 put him in a share of 21st, with Thriston Lawrence on one-under 70. Brandon Stone had a level-par 71, and Daniel van Tonder, Darren Fichardt and Richard Sterne were all on one-over in a share of 72nd. Louis de Jager and Hennie du Plessis were on two-over, Wilco Nienaber carded a four-over-par 75, Haydn Porteous had a six-over and Oliver Bekker slumped to a nine-over to bring up the rear of the field.
