The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Hendrik Buhrmann leads the pack

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 12, 2006

Sport

Sport - Golf

Hendrik Buhrmann leads the pack

D. Ravi Shankar

AAMBY VALLEY (Lonavala): Hendrik Buhrmann has put himself in a position to achieve a wish of a lifetime. The 42-year-old from Roodmpoort, South Africa, has been a regular on the Asian Tour for the past 11 years with average success and no titles.

With his first round card of six-under par 66, Hendrik has a great chance of bagging his first title on the Tour. In his own words, "I hope I can put four good rounds together and win this one."

Hendrik is known for his wisecracks on the Tour. But on the course in the first round, the serious competitor found himself in fluent rhythm.

"I think it was my holiday attitude that's lingering after a short break. I went home to play the Swazi Open and that has turned my approach to the game. The key today was my putting. I read the greens very well, but the roughs were terrible. I don't think I played the par-5's very well," Hendrik said.

He had only one birdie on the par-5, 550-yard third hole, but more importantly he didn't bogey any of the three other five-stroke holes.

Hendrik also had birdies on the first, fifth, ninth, 10th, 11th and the 15th with his sole blemish coming on the 16th hole where he was in the deep rough and missed an eight foot putt for par.

Hot on Hendrik's heels were the Indian pair of Ashok Kumar and Feroz Ali, both with cards of five under 67.

The Indian duo were in tied second spot along with Adam Groom of Australia and Simon Hurd of England.

Four birdies in a row

The tournament was off to a rocketing start from the 12th hole when Simon Griffiths of England, after starting with two pars from a 10th hole tee-off, shot four birdies in a row from the 12th to the 16th holes.

The Englishman was four-under after six holes and ended the first nine on four-under 32. Griffiths is playing his first tournament on the Asian Tour after being a regular on the European Challenge Tour three years ago.

Out of action for three years, he was lucky to have the support of a group of friends who put together the money to send him to the Asian `Q' School and this tournament. Their faith in him was reposed with his blazing start.

"Beware of an injured golfer," cautioned Simon as he ended tied sixth with four under for the day.

The scores (first round): 1. Hendrik Buhrmann (66); 2. Adam Groom, Simon Hurd, Ashok Kumar and Feroz Ali (67 each); 6. Simon Griffiths, Keith Horne (68 each); 8. Corey Harris, Kane Webber, Martin Rominger, Jarrod Moseley, Luke Hickmott, Airil Rizman Zahari, Uttam Singh Mundy and Mukesh Kumar (69 each).

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