Coetzee stays in command at Diamond Country Club
Barring a miracle, George Coetzee will take the lead into the second round of the Austrian Open after the majority of the field - including US Open winner Graeme McDowell - finished without managing to overhaul the South African's clubhouse lead.
One of the early starters, Coetzee carded eight birdies and a bogey to finish seven-under-par 65; a score that sees him one stroke ahead of challengers Terry Pilkadaris and José Manuel Lara. The Australian Pilkadaris finished with three birdies in the last four holes to finish on six-under, but Lara could have finished level with Coetzee if not for an error at the last.
The Spaniard shot a near flawless round of seven birdies, the last coming at the 16th; but then Lara made his first error on the 18th, bogeying the par five hole to slip down into a tie for second place.
That's a let off for Coetzee, who could use a good finish here this week; currently placed 142nd in the Race to Dubai, he needs to finish 115th or better in order to retain his European tour card for 2011.
Ranked at a modest 367 in the world, Coetzee is nonetheless in respectable form, finishing 10th at the Johnnie Walker Championship a few weeks ago, although having made the cut his game then went off the boil; the worry must be that having got himself into a good position here, the 24-year-old may not be able to maintain that momentum.
Other players well placed at this early stage include Ireland's Damien McGrane, in fourth place on four-under, and Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Javi Colomo, on four-under and tied for fifth place with Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin and England's David Lynn.
Of the two Ryder Cup team members - the only players from the top 100 of golf's world rankings present in Austria this week - neither man gave captain Colin Montgomerie a great deal to cheer. Miguel Angel Jiménez finished on level par after an up and down round comprised of five birdies, three bogeys and a double on the 18th (but not Jiménez's last - the Spaniard started on the back nine).
Graeme McDowell did improve after a sloppy start, making up for a pair of bogeys on the 2nd and 3rd to go three-under after shooting five birdies on the back nine.
While several players are yet to finish their rounds, the late finishers are so far off the pace that it would take a truly inspirational turn to see Coetzee toppled before the second round at Diamond Country Club, Atzenbrugg tomorrow.
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