Rumford sets pace with course record

Australian Brett Rumford equalled the course record of 64 to grab a one-shot lead in the SAA Open at the Erinvale Golf Club.

Rumford made eight birdies in calm conditions to put himself top of the leaderboard.

But he has Stephen Dodd breathing down his neck after the Welshman came in later in the day having scored an impressive 65.

Just behind them are a group of three players which includes England’s Steve Webster, hoping to improve on his second place in this tournament in 2002 with a solid performance this week.

Rumford, who won the 2003 St Omer Open in France last year to open his title account on the European Tour, was ecstatic about his form on his first visit to Cape Town.

“I putted extremely well today and played pretty solid on the front nine,” said Rumford.

“I made three birdies there, but probably the key holes for me were the 10th and 11th (his first and second after starting on the ninth) where I holed par putts of 10 and six feet which kept the momentum going.

“From there I reeled off four birdies in a row, but it was a nice day. It kind of happened all of a sudden.”

The Australian, who had to be up at 4.45am to arrive for his 6.30am tee-off time, believes he was helped by the fact he is still suffering from jet lag.

“I got up very early but the good thing is that I am still a bit on Australian time, seven hours ahead, so I get tired in the afternoons,” he added.

“I have been getting up at three or four in the morning anyway, so it worked out well.”

Webster’s round could have been even better had he not bogeyed the 17th, but he managed to pick himself up and close out with a birdie.

“I played really well all day, I was four under after four and had a sand iron into the fifth and took a double there,” he said.

“So I let a few shots go but I made a few good putts on the day. I’m happy with a 66.”

With a massive eagle at the second hole – courtesy of a 15-foot putt – and three birdies in the last five holes, Webster will be looking for a lot more consistency in his second round.

He sits alongside South Africans Hendrik Buhrmann, an Asian Tour veteran and Hennie Otto.

Two shots back on four-under are a group of players including Scot Colin Montgomerie and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Montgomerie, who played the course teeing off from the 10th, came home in style with four birdies on the back nine to leave him with an afternoon of “doing the touristy thing” in seeing Cape Town’s sights.

But the big Scot looked far from relieved after his round.

He described 68 as “okay” and added: “I was struggling a bit on the front nine – a little bit anxious really.

“With a new caddie, new shoes and a new bag and new clubs, obviously I was just feeling my way.

“Then I relaxed on the back nine and managed to score four on the back nine which was good and puts me in a good position for tomorrow.

“The weather plays a huge part here. We were fortunate this morning, but we will have to see what happens tomorrow.”

Other tournament favourites, including Lee Westwood, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and defending champion Trevor Immelmann, tee off after lunch.