Bezuidenhout leads SA challenge at Portrush

Former SA Open champion Christiaan Bezuidenhout (below) was the best-placed South African after the first round of the 153rd Open Championship being played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

- Jacques van der Westhuyzen

The 31-year-old who won the SA Open title in 2020, a week after also capturing the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek, was among the leaders late yesterday as the first round wrapped up at Portrush.

Bezuidenhout fired a four-under-par 67 to put himself in the mix at the final Major of the year.

During a bogey-free front nine, he made birdies at the fifth, sixth and seventh holes to go out in 33 and while he bogeyed the par-four 11th he hit back with an eagle at the next hole, the par-five 12th, to record a 34 on his back nine.

The 67 was his best round in Major golf.