Moore & Vaughan share opening lead

Local player Titch Moore and the United States' Bruce Vaughan shared the lead on seven under par after the first round of the South African Open at the Durban Country Club on Thursday.

Both carded 65s on the relatively short but tight 6,747-yard layout to lead South Africa's Tjaart van der Walt by a stroke.

Moore, who is one of the longest hitters on the tour, played in the morning when there was slightly less wind and carded six birdies, an eagle and a bogey while 49-year-old Vaughan had eight birdies and a single bogey.

Van der Walt, who possesses full playing privileges on the U.S. PGA Tour, is a member at Durban Country Club and lives just 15 minutes north of the course.

He had five birdies, an eagle on the par-four 18th, where he sank a 40-foot putt after driving the green with a three wood, and a single bogey.

Vaughan used his experience, rather than power, to plot his way around the course after nearly a year out of the game with a serious knee injury.

"The last time I played when I managed to walk 18 holes was the South African Tour Championship last February," Vaughan said.

"I am more shocked than anybody that I am up there because the only thing I have been able to practise has been putting. I putted well today so I guess it paid off.

"I'm not thinking of winning, I just hope that I can walk 18 holes every day, that's all I care about. My main goal was to come here and get healthy."

It was a day for ailing players with Van der Walt also playing a four-round tournament for the first time since the British Open last July due a wrist injury.

Briton Malcolm McKenzie, who carded 68, spent the winter working with specialists on long-standing shoulder injury at Loughborough University.

Moore, it seemed, was the only player at the top of the leaderboard not to be returning from injury.

"I'm delighted with the start because I putted really well," Moore said. "I hit a lot of good iron shots and was able to convert them."

An example of Moore's power was at the 527 yard par-five 14th where he only needed a six-iron to reach the green in two. He put his approach to six feet and holed the putt for eagle.

Defending champion Trevor Immelman returned a 70 while Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke shot 72.

South Africa's Tim Clark, who won the 2002 SA Open -- the last time it was played in Durban -- shot 68 to stay in the hunt along with compatriot Charl Schwartzel who claimed his maiden European Tour title at the Dunhill Championships in December.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page