JC Ritchie made three birdies and a bogey on Thursday in the first round of the Challenge Tour’s British Challenge at St Mellion Estate in Cornwall to sign for a two-under-par 70.
That put him three shots off the lead which was shared at five-under-par by Steven Tiley of England and Sweden’s Simon Forsstrom. They had a one-stroke edge over five players on four-under, with three players on three-under in a share of eighth. Ritchie was in a share of 11th.
The other two South Africans in the field, Deon Germishuys and Bryce Easton, had poor starts after a couple of weeks of strong showings as they look to finish inside the top 20 on the Road to Mallorca. Germishuys had a five-under-par 77 to start with, while Easton signed for a six-over 78. They are both looking to win their cards for the DP World Tour for the next season.
