Fuente: © PGA European Tour
http://www.europeantour.com/

PGA EUROPEAN TOUR: Clark and Tshabalala lead the Nelson Mandela Invitational

/noticias.info/ European Tour Member Tim Clark and his partner Vincent Tshabalala took the first round lead of the Nelson Mandela Invitational presented by Coca-Cola and hosted by Gary Player at the Arabella Country Estate.

The pair were nine-under in the betterball format thanks to a seven-under 65 from Clark, who carded nine birdies including six in a row between the eighth and the 13th holes. He had two bogeys both at the par threes on the fifth and 14th.

Tshabalala, who won last year in the company of Ernie Els, made a crucial birdie on the 18th on an otherwise forgettable day to give his team the cushion of a two stroke lead going into Sunday's second an final round.

"I made a whole bunch of putts which I haven't been doing for the last few weeks," Clark said. "I missed a couple of chances on the 15th and 16th but made a nice putt on the 17th for another birdie and then Vincent saved us on 18th.

"He had a bit of a tough day so that was great that he made that putt on the 18th. It will get his confidence going for tomorrow's second round."

The team of host Gary Player led the fourball alliance competition, which includes the celebrity and businessman in each fourball, on 14-under par two strokes clear of their nearest rivals.

The Black Knight was paired with another European Tour Member, Trevor Immelman, Coca-Cola's Alex Maditsi and former NFL star Ahmad Rashad. Immelman was the leading light in that pairing with a superb round of 65. He carded five birdies and an eagle to also help guide he and Player to seven-under in the betterball

"We played quite well really," Immelman said. "My eagle on the second got us off but we slowed down a bit before I made a birdie on the ninth and then added three more on the 11th, 12th and 13th.

"Mr Player played really well all day and as always he was the perfect gentleman. For me, with Mr Player being one of my heroes it was great to be able to play well in front of him."
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