Dunhill Championship: great start for Robin Roussel, co-leader after 18 holes

This is the pleasant surprise of this first lap on the sublime Leopard Creek Country Club course in Melalane, on the edge of the enchanting Park Kruger.

Robin Roussel, 27, disembarked from the Challenge Tour at the start of the season, is indeed in the lead after eighteen holes.

The golfer of Ozoir-la-Ferrière (77) thus delivered a very nice 65 (-7) with in particular a splendid sequence of five consecutive birdies between holes 10 and 14. He shares command with Adrian Meronk, author of his side of two eagles and especially the first Polish in the history of the Tour leader of a tournament… The duo have a head start over the experienced Scottish, Scott Jamieson, 66 (-6) this Thursday in South Africa.

Englishman Richard Bland is only fourth at -5 (67).

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This is the first time that the French have posted such a low card in 49 rounds played since the end of November 2019 on the European Tour.

Almost a year ago, he started here with a 68 (-4) before taking 14th place overall.

It is in any case for him a nice breath of fresh air, especially when we know that he is always looking for a first convincing result at the highest level, he who has so far only succeeded a single top 15 (this 14th place in this first Dunhill Championship on December 1, 2019 at the start of the season) in eighteen starts (seven cuts made).

Starting early and benefiting from more favorable playing conditions than the afternoon games, handicapped by a stronger wind, Roussel quickly gained confidence after a first birdie in 2 before going on to this superb series on the first holes of the return before a final birdie on the par 5 of 18.

Signing off with a birdie at the last pic.twitter.com/9fksdj0YGy

- The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 26, 2020

“It's one of my favorite weeks here, if not all year, he insists at the microphone of the European Tour at the end of the recording.

I love the course.

And it's a week that is close to my heart because I am a huge fan of nature and animals.

I'm very happy to start the week with a 65. Although I would have taken any score under par.

It is indeed a very difficult course, very demanding with the heat, the grain different on the greens from what we usually meet in Europe.

My caddy (a local) helped me a lot on the greens today.

"

The five other Frenchmen engaged this week in South Africa have experienced varying fortunes.

Alexander Levy, who seems to find his game little by little, begins with a good 70 (-2) which places him in 22nd position, just two shots from the top 5. Julien Guerrier manages to play in the par (51st) while Matthieu Pavon, Joël Stalter and Adrien Saddier are beyond sixtieth place, between +1 and +5.