LUMBRES, France, June 16 (UPI) -- George Coetzee closed with three consecutive birdies Thursday and owns a 2-stroke lead after the first round of the European Tour's Saint-Omer Open in France.
Coetzee had six birdies and one bogey for a 5-under-par 66. Eirik Tage Johansen, Thomas Norret, Andrea Perrino, Benoit Teilleria and Matthew Zions are tied for second at 3-under 68 and another seven players are at 2-under.
Norret was the only player among the leaders to get through Thursday without a bogey as wet, windy weather kept scores relatively high.
Coetzee benefited from an early tee time, getting his round in before the worse conditions hit. He played the back nine at the Aa Saint Omer Golf Club first Thursday and a bogey at 13 had him 1-over after four holes. But he played the rest of the round in 6-under, including birdies on his final three holes.
"The wind is starting to pick up now but it wasn't that bad this morning," Coetzee said. "I putted pretty well, that's the reason for my score. It's not easy to get the ball on the green or to keep it there if you do get it on the green. But I played well over the last three holes and it's a good start."
