South Africa’s Robin Williams grabbed a share of the first-round lead at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Germany’s Tiger Christensen and France’s Martin Couvra also shot a six-under-par 65.
Christensen was one over for his first six holes and level par at the turn, before holing from the fringe at the 10th sparked a run of six consecutive birdies.
“I think we had a good game plan, stayed patient all day,” Christensen said. “I played pretty good on the front nine but just happened to not really get it close enough to the hole, where the putts will drop.
“Then I made a good one from the fringe on 10 and it kind of got going and then hit it really close on 11. From there, hit a really good tee shot on the par five, and you got a couple birdie holes up there and then took advantage of the last par five as well to make it six [under].
“I feel good pressure. I definitely enjoy these tournaments a lot.
“I think, bouncing around from HotelPlanner Tour to here, it’s always a lot of fun when we come out here and get the opportunity to play – I’m very thankful.
“It’s great nerves, you want to have them, you want to play good, so yeah, definitely feels awesome. It doesn’t do any negative or anything. I’m just happy to be here and try and take advantage of it as good as I can.”
The 22-year-old Couvra graduated from last season’s HotelPlanner Tour and has impressed with four top-10 finishes already in his rookie campaign, including fifth place at the Hainan Classic last time out.
In contrast to Christensen, the Frenchman did most of his good work on the front nine – although he started at the 10th.
A birdie at the par-five 15th was his only deviation from par over the first eight holes before a spectacular hole out from a bunker at the 18th kicked off a hat-trick of gains.
After birdies from 14 feet at the 1st and seven feet at the 2nd, Couvra produced a superb approach to the 5th for a tap-in gain before his only blemish of the day following a three-putt at the next was cancelled out by closing birdies at the 8th and 9th.
“Pretty happy about this first round,” he said. “I played well all day. Just kept smiling on the course, and that’s it.
“I love this place. You have to be good tee to green, that’s the biggest strength of my game. You need to keep the ball on the fairway and hit some good irons.
“My game is pretty good and my confidence too. I just try to keep a good mindset on the golf course.”
Williams produced six birdies in a flawless round to make a late charge up the leaderboard.
Dutchman Joost Luiten and England’s Brandon Robinson Thompson sit fourth on five under.
– Edited report from DP World Tour website
Photo: Jan Kruger/Getty Images
