Round report
Stewart and Buchanan share Dunhill Links lead as outsiders shine
Michael Stewart came home in 30 at Carnoustie and Jack Buchanan hit all 18 greens at Kingsbarns. Neither started the week inside the world's top 750.
Michael Stewart, a Scot playing on a late sponsor’s invitation, and Australia’s Jack Buchanan both shot bogey-free 65s on Thursday to lead the 25th Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on seven under, one clear of South Africans Casey Jarvis and MJ Daffue. AP pointed out that neither leader started the week inside the world’s top 750.
Leaderboard after round 1
| Pos | Player | Score | Round 1 (course) |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Michael Stewart | -7 | 65 (Carnoustie) |
| T1 | Jack Buchanan | -7 | 65 (Kingsbarns) |
| T3 | Casey Jarvis | -6 | 66 (Carnoustie) |
| T3 | MJ Daffue | -6 | 66 (Kingsbarns) |
| T5 | Brandon Stone | -5 | 67 (Kingsbarns) |
| T5 | Mikael Lindberg | -5 | 67 (Kingsbarns) |
| T5 | Hugo Townsend | -5 | 67 (Kingsbarns) |
| T5 | Daniel van Tonder | -5 | 67 (Kingsbarns) |
| T5 | Hennie du Plessis | -5 | 67 (Old Course) |
| T5 | Dean Burmester | -5 | 67 (Old Course) |
| T5 | Christiaan Burke | -5 | 67 (Kingsbarns) |
Stewart’s 30 home at Carnoustie
After one birdie on the front nine Stewart made an eagle at the 12th and followed it with four birdies in a row, coming home in 30 without dropping a shot. He had played the Tartan Pro Tour from Monday to Wednesday and arrived without a practice round, and told reporters, “I feel home at links golf.”
Buchanan went the other way at Kingsbarns, opening with four birdies in his first six holes for an outward 32. According to Golf Today he hit all 18 greens, and he finished with seven birdies and no bogeys. He came into the week off back-to-back missed cuts.
Seven South Africans in the top ten
Jarvis shot his 66 at Carnoustie, the toughest of the three courses on Thursday by scoring average, and Daffue posted his at Kingsbarns. Brandon Stone, Daniel van Tonder, Hennie du Plessis, Dean Burmester and Christiaan Burke were all among the group of seven on five under. Kingsbarns played easiest, averaging 70.38 on the official scores against 71.05 at the Old Course and 71.25 at Carnoustie, and seven of the eleven players in the top ten and ties went round it. All three courses are par 72.
Fitzpatrick 68, Hatton 74
Matt Fitzpatrick, who won the Open de France last week, opened with a 68 at Carnoustie to sit four under and tied 12th, alongside Sepp Straka. Brooks Koepka (69) and Tommy Fleetwood (70) were in red figures. Defending champion Robert MacIntyre shot 71, as did Lee Westwood, while Ian Poulter returned to the DP World Tour with a level-par 72 on the Old Course. The three-time champion Tyrrell Hatton shot 74 at Carnoustie to sit two over.
Josh Hill, making his professional debut, opened with a level-par 72.
What to watch today
Friday’s second round is in our round two report. The cut to the top 60 professionals and ties comes after Saturday’s third round. Sky Sports has the coverage in Britain and Ireland, 11:00 to 16:00 GMT. Follow along on our tournament hub.
Sources
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