Williams leads SA charge at Turkish Airlines Open

Young Robin Williams is leading the South African charge in the DP World Tour's Turkish Airlines Open here at the Regnum Carya in Antalya, Tiirkiye.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

The 23-year-old enjoyed a strong start with three birdies within his first four holes, and maintained his form throughout the day with three further birdies to finish on six-un-der-par to tie with co-leaders Italian Martin Couvra and German Tiger Christensen after Thursday’s first round.

Meanwhile, a refreshed Wilco Nienaber believes a new-found phil-osophical approach to the game will help him succeed in the Turkish Airlines Open. Nienaber, who won the NTT DATA Pro-Am at Fancourt while his grandfather was on his death bed back in February, shot a splendid opening-round 68 to finish three-un-der par on Thursday.

“I think, with the events at home, I was pretty tired,” Nienaber said. “A lot of personal stuff has happened since NTT Data.

“I lost my grandfather one day after.

“So, quite a lot has happened since then.

“Chats have been had, and things have happened on the other side of it. He wasn't well for quite a while.