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| April 25, 2003 | Friday | Safar 22, 1424 |
Teenager Schwartzel on top
TENERIFE (Spain), April 24: South African teenager Charl Schwartzel put himself on track for a European Tour record on Thursday, firing a nine-under-par 63 to take the early first-round lead in the Canaries Spanish Open.
The 18-year-old Schwartzel, who covered his final nine holes at Golf Costa Adeje in only 29 shots, is bidding to eclipse compatriot Dale Hayes as Europe’s youngest tour winner, Hayes having won the 1971 Spanish Open aged 18 years and 290 days.
Schwartzel will be 18 years and 239 days on Sunday and, should he triumph in Tenerife, will have clinched his maiden title after just nine European Tour outings and in his 11th tournament as a professional.
The Johannesburg-born golfer reeled off two eagles and five birdies to move one stroke clear of Scandinavian duo Jarmo Sandelin and Soren Hansen, who collected 18 birdies between them in benign conditions to hold the clubhouse lead in the morning.
Tournament favourite and defending champion Sergio Garcia, blaming a poor putting round, returned a 69 to lie six off the pace, ruing he had “probably shot a couple over” on a layout he equates to “a par-67”.
Garcia and both the early leaders believe an official round of 13-under-par 59 could be achieved for the first time on the European Tour in Tenerife this week, on a course where all six shortish par-fives are reachable in two.—Reuters
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