Kobori contending, Ko steady in first round
- NZ Sports Wire
- Aug 22
- 2 min read
New Zealand golfer Kazuma Kobori is flirting with the top-10 on the DP World Tour.
Kobori fired five birdies and two bogeys in a three-under 69 in the first round of the British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo on Thursday (Friday NZ Time) at The Belfry, to sit in a share of 12th, three shots off the lead.
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The 23-year-old birdied the par-five third and par-four fifth to make the turn at two-under. Birdies at the 12th, 15th and 17th holes, the latter two both par-fives, were book-ended by bogeys at the 11th and 18th.
Compatriot Daniel Hillier's struggles have continued, with three birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey in a one-over 73, leaving him tied for 67th.
Hillier started well from the 10th tee, picking up shots at the 10th, 15th and 17th, however, he bogeyed the third and eighth holes and doubled the par-four sixth after finding the water off the tee.
The Kiwi pair will tee off their second rounds on Friday at the same time, 1.20pm local time (12.20am Saturday NZT), with Kobori from the 10th tee and Hillier from the first.
Meanwhile, NZ golfer Lydia Ko's bid for the CPKC Women's Open title in Canada has got off to a steady start.
Ko made two birdies, a bogey and 15 pars in the opening round on Thursday (Friday NZT) at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Ontario, to sit in a tie for 21st, six strokes behind the 18-hole leader.
The 28-year-old birdied the par-three third hole, but gave the stroke back immediately at the par-four fourth. After 12 straight pars, Ko birdied the par-four 17th.
She will tee off her second round on Friday from the first tee at 7.55am local time (11.55pm NZT).
Ko has won the tournament three times, in a four-year span, twice as an amateur in 2012-13 and again in 2015 as a professional.
