British duo Andrew Wilson and Matthew Jordan are two strokes off the lead at the DP World Tour’s Soudal Open in Belgium. New Zealander Sam Jones is in the lead with nine under par. Watch the Soudal Open live on Sky Sports Golf from 12pm on Friday.
20:29, UK, Thursday 23 May 2024
New Zealand’s Sam Jones held a two-stroke lead at the Soudal Open on Thursday but found himself under pressure for the first time in his career.
Jones, a tour newcomer on the DP World Tour, held his second shot from 273 yards on the par-5 17th hole at Linkben International Golf Club in Antwerp, Belgium, for a 9-under 62.
British duo Andrew Wilson and Matthew Jordan are in a group of five players who are tied for second place at two under, along with Nacho Elvira, Romain Langask and Niklas Norgaard.
The 27-year-old Jones had three birdies and one bogey in the first nine holes, then recorded four more birdies before capping off a brilliant day with an albatross.
“I thought it was going to be a three shot at first, I was going to lay up (on No. 17),” Jones explained. “I thought a 3-iron off the tee, hit a 3-wood, pulled it a little bit and hit it good.”
From there, he hit a three-wood into the wind.
“I was already feeling good at that point, so I didn’t think it was a big deal to make bogey here,” he said. “I just hit it, let the ball flow, called it good in the air, and it worked.”
Jones arrived in Belgium after failing to qualify in four of his previous five tournaments.
The DP World Tour’s Belgium Soudal Open can be watched live on Sky Sports Golf from 12pm on Friday.
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