Hennie du Plessis rounded out a bogey-free six-under-par 64 on Friday to complete the weather-delayed first round of the DP World Tour’s ISPS Handa Championship in Spain in a three-way share of the lead.
He parred his last two holes to join Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland and American Johannes Veerman. The trio had a one-stroke advantage over David Law, Jack Senior, Guido Migliozzi and Niklas Lemke. Du Plessis started his round on the 10th and he made four birdies on the back nine to turn in four-under. He made two more in the dimming light on Thursday evening on the fourth and seventh, before returning to complete his round.
Du Plessis already has two top-10s to his name on the DP World Tour this season – in the rain-shortened Joburg Open and in the MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood – and is looking to convert that form into a win which would give him a leg-up in his quest to play regularly on the DP World Tour.
Haydn Porteous and Louis de Jager were in a share of eighth on four-under, with Thriston Lawrence and Oliver Bekker on three-under in 31st. Darren Fichardt and Daniel van Tonder were on one-under in a share of 42nd, while Zander Lombard, Jacques Kruyswijk, Richard Sterne and Wilco Nienaber were on one-over with work to do if they are to make the cut. Justin Walters will have to work hard too to make the weekend after an opening two-over-par 72.
