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Andrew Dodt opens up two-shot lead after first-round 66 in Mauritius

Andrew Dodt of Australia plays a shot during the first round of AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Four Seasons Golf Club

Andrew Dodt defied blustery conditions at the Four Seasons Golf Club Anahita to claim a two-shot lead after the first day of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

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AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Dodt carded a blistering six-under 66 to set an early clubhouse target that was never seriously under threat throughout the remainder of the round, with Rashid Khan and Siddikur Rahman emerging as his closest challengers after both returned 68s.

Australian Dodt started brightly as he pitched in for birdie at the 10th, and he added another at 11 after knocking a superb seven-iron to inside three feet from a fairway bunker.

Dodt holed a number of excellent putts during his opening 66
Image: Dodt holed a number of excellent putts during his opening 66

He dropped a shot at 14 but responded with a further birdie at the next, and he capped a back-nine 32 with an eagle at 18 before getting into trouble at the long second and running up a six.

But he again bounced back positively with a birdie at the fourth, and he picked up two more shots over his closing three holes, and said: "If someone offered me six under at the start of the day, I'd have taken it. It's not easy out there.

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Highlights of day one of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open from the Four Seasons GC at Anahita.

"If you're off by just a little bit, it gets magnified by the wind. I played really solidly. I didn't make many mistakes and the momentum of the round just kept flowing. Knocking those six-footers in for par just keeps the momentum going, and I did hole some key putts today.

"I didn't hit a good shot into the tenth, but managed to chip in for birdie, and then on 11 I went in the fairway bunker and hit a seven-iron out to about two feet. It just got to the round off on the right note and it continued from there.

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Dodt chipped in for birdie at his first hole
Image: Dodt chipped in for birdie at his first hole

"It was pretty breezy, and when you get out to three, four and five you're right on the beach and more exposed. I hit an eight iron from 96 metres at one stage. I haven't done that before."

Only 21 players in the 126-player field managed to break the par of 72 on the opening day, and defending champion George Coetzee was one of them as he birdied to of his last three holes to salvage a 71.

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Last week's winner in Morocco, Korea's Jeunghun Wang, continued his excellent form with a three-under 69 to earn a share of fourth alongside Argentine Estanislao Goya.

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