Advertisement

Santos shoots 62 for European Tour lead

EAST LONDON, South Africa, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Ricardo Santos fired a 9-under-par 62 Thursday in taking the first-round lead at the European Tour's Africa Open in South Africa.

Santos had strings of three consecutive birdies on each side at the East London Golf Club in building a two-stroke lead over four other players.

Advertisement

Lucas Bjerregaard, Richard Bland, Rhys Davies and Garth Mulroy all turned in scores of 7-under 64 and are tied for second. Six more players are at 6-under 66.

Santos was 1-under after four holes before running off three straight birdies to reach 4-under through seven. Birdies at Nos. 10 and 12 had Santos at 6-under and his second string of three birdies -- coming at Nos. 16-17 -- put him into the lead.

"I hit the ball solidly from the tee and my putting was all good," Santos said. "To shoot minus nine you have to play awesome golf, so I'm really pleased with every piece of my game.

"If the wind blows this is a very tough course but today if you put the ball in the fairway you had the chance to shoot a low round."

Advertisement

Latest Headlines