• Saint Omer Open, Round One

Coetzee jumps into the first round lead in France

ESPN staff
June 16, 2011
George Coetzee offers a wry smile © Getty Images
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South African George Coetzee recovered from a slow start to card a five-under par round of 66 that handed him the clubhouse lead at the Saint Omer Open.

Coetzee, who began his round on the 10th, bogeyed his fourth hole of the day to move over par, but responded immediately with a birdie at the next and one on his ninth to reach the turn at one-under.

From there four birdies on the homeward nine - including three over the final three holes - helped him to move clear of the field as the early players finished.

A number of players managed rounds of 68 to finish the first round at two shots off Coetzee's lead - taking advantage of a week where many of the world's best players are in action at the US Open at Congressional.

Eirik Tage Johansen, Andrea Perrino, Matthew Zions, Thomas Norret and Benoit Teilleria all will feel confident of their chances over the next three days as they sit at three under.

Elsewhere, the English duo of Sam Hutsby and Daniel Denison got off to a solid start with matching rounds of 69.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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