Eddie Pepperell not clumsy in the tropical wind. Benjamin Hébert too…

There was a lot of wind this Thursday near Grand Baie on the Mont Choisy course. Despite gusts of more than 40 km/h at times in the afternoon, the Englishman Eddie Pepperell (photo) still did very well, signing the card of the day. His 66 (-6) gives him sole control of the tournament. Best Frenchman, Benjamin Hébert launches his Mauritian week with a solid 69 (-3). Le Briviste is in the top 10 (9th)!

L.V.

You had to be born in the north of Europe, more particularly in the British Isles, to claim to shine this Thursday for this first round of theAfrAsia Bank Mauritius Openlast tournament of the calendar year on the DP World Tour.

Find the complete ranking and tee times for the 2nd round

The wind was indeed omnipresent at Mont Choisy with occasional gusts of more than 40 km/h in the afternoon. A data that did not frighten Eddie Pepperell33, used to this kind of setting in his native England. The one who missed by one point a right to play via the PQ3 a month ago in Tarragona, after finishing 120th in the Race, thus offered himself a nice completed ride with a very solid card of 66 (-6 ) including three birdies on his last three holes.

« I didn’t expect itwhispered the double winner on the European Tour at the end of the recording, caddée for the occasion by his wife, Jen. After conceding a bogey on the second hole, I wondered if I was not going to experience one of those Thursdays as was the case last week, already in windy conditions (Editor’s note, missed cut Leopard Creek). But I turned the situation around pretty well. I played very well, to be honest, overall. So I’m very happy. »

« Coming out of the 15th, I said to myself: “Keep your head down, let it happen.” It’s been a while since I’ve been in such a favorable position, at -3 under par, even on a Thursday. I just tried to concentrate and continue to do what I was able to do on Wednesday in training. And it obviously worked well… »

The last winner of the British amateur in ambush

He has a head start on the Dane Jacob Skov Olesen25 years old, author earlier in the day of a 67 (-5) without the slightest error. Winner of the last British amateur on the side of Ballyliffin (Ireland), he, unlike Pepperell, managed to win an 18 category in the Cards final just a few days after deciding to turn professional.

The top of the leaderboard is clearly compact with no less than six golfers on the third step of the podium at -4 (68) including the traveling missile launcher, the South African Wilco Nienaber.

Benjamin Hébert continues

Just behind, we find the best of the ten French people competing this week in the tropics. 36th atAlfred Dunhill Championship last Sunday, Benjamin Hébert, back at the highest level after two seasons on the Challenge Tourcontinues with a solid 69 (-3) which sends him to 9th place in the company of Christo Lamprechtanother South African with a devastating drive, also winner of the British Amateur (in 2023 at Hillside).

Victorious at Mont Choisy in December 2022 during the last passage of the Tour here, Antoine Roznerpresented by his friends Louis Cohen-Boyerwas in much more difficulty, especially putter in hand. The Racingman, who will return on January 10 Matthew Pavon et Romain Langasque within the Continental European team at the Team Cup, settled for a 74 (+2). He is currently 80th, just one length from the virtual cut. He is expected this Friday at 7:20 a.m. (4:20 a.m. in France), at the 10th tee!

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Photo : Sunshine Tour