KLM Open: Joost Luiten shares lead after shortened first round in Holland
Thursday 11 September 2014 21:07, UK
Dutchman Joost Luiten made a flying start to the defence of his KLM Open title as he hit a five-under-par 65 to take the clubhouse lead as fading light stopped play with players still out on the course.
A lengthy delay earlier in the day, when Fabrizio Zanotti was hit by a golf ball and taken to hospital, meant that the first round was incomplete, with Scotland's Jamie McLeary alongside Luiten on the leaderboard on five-under but with two holes still to play.
Luiten is looking to become the first Dutchman to successfully retain a title on the European Tour, and in his home open at that, after he defeated Miguel Angel Jimenez in a play-off last year.
And he certainly made a great start to that bid after shooting 65 at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club to lead by one when play was ended without the full field completing their first rounds.
“It is always nice to shoot a 65. I played well and didn’t make any mistakes,” said Luiten. “That’s the key on this course, keep the ball in play and take your chances. For me it was a good solid round and I hit some nice spots.
“I wasn’t playing bad on the front nine, but just not hitting it that close. Then a couple of holes on that stretch of five, six, seven are scoring holes and I took advantage. I thought if I made a couple of birdies it would be a nice round and the eagle on seven was a bonus.
"It was one of those putts that can go in or just stay on the edge. So that was a bonus to see it go in for eagle. Then I hit it stiff on eight and all of a sudden you are five under for the round.
Mistakes
“It’s the first day so you just stay patient and don’t make big mistakes and your chances will come. And they did.”
Play was earlier suspended for two hours and 20 minutes while Zanotti received treatment and was taken to hospital after being struck on the head by an errant drive from France’s Alexandre Kaleka.
31-year-old Zanotti, who won the BMW International Open in June, was on the 16th fairway when he was injured by a ball hit by Kaleka from the 14th tee.
“Fabrizio is receiving treatment after being struck on the head by a ball on the 16th hole. Glad to say he is ok though and we wish him well,” read a tweet on the European Tour’s official Twitter feed.
Zanotti later tweeted himself that he was looking to take a couple of weeks off after he was cleared and released from hospital.
Back on the course, Eduardo Molinari carded an opening 66 to lie one shot off the lead held by defending champion Joost Luiten and Scotland's McLeary.
Italy's Andrea Pavan and France's Gary Stal were alongside Molinari on four under, with Ryder Cup player Thomas Bjorn and vice-captain Jimenez off the pace on one over.
