Friday 6 March 2015 19:53, UK
Kevin Phelan continued his impressive form with an opening-round 67 to share the clubhouse lead at the Africa Open.
The Irishman recovered from dropping an early shot at the 11th to fire six birdies in blustery conditions and join Matt Ford on five-under at East London GC.
Phelan, last week’s tied-runner up at the Joburg Open, shot back-to-back gains on his back nine, before a third successive birdie at the par-four seventh after escaping from behind trees with his second shot.
“It’s nice to carry it on this week,” the world No 368 said. “Conditions were completely different to last week, but it’s nice to play well.
“I played quite aggressively and tried to get as close to the greens as I could, and I think all of my birdies came from within about 50 or 60 yards.”
Ford, without a top 10 finish on the European Tour, opened with five birdies in the only blemish-free round of the day, while fellow Englishmen David Howell and Richard Bland are part of the group a further stroke back.
Bland could have led had it not been for two dropped shots across three holes on the turn, after backing up three early gains with three further birdies on his front nine.
“The wind was completely opposite to what we’d played in the last couple of days,” Bland said. “It had a bit of a wobble in the middle part at nine and 11 but they’re tough holes - probably the two toughest par-fours on the course.”
Despite mixing six birdies with a shot-of-the-day contender eagle on the par-four sixth, John Parry also only posted a four-under first round 68 following a double-bogey at the fourth and further dropped shots at the second and 14th.
Home favourite Neil Schietekat and Spain's Eduardo de la Riva complete the five-way tie for second, while Matthew Fitzpatrick remains in the hunt on three-under after picking up three strokes on the front nine, before remedying the effect of a bogey on the eighth with a birdie on the 531-yard 15th.
Andy Sullivan, looking for his third win of the season following early victories at the South Africa Open and Joburg Open, opened with an erratic round containing five birdies and as many bogeys to join Darren Clarke on level par.
Watch day two of the Africa Open on Friday from 8.30am live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
