Staff WriterZander Lombard seized the early lead at the Soudal Open with a crisp eight-under-par 63 at Rinkven International Golf Club, turning a calm Thursday morning in Antwerp into something rather more uncomfortable for the chasing pack.
The South African was out early, when the air was still, the greens were true, and the course had not yet developed the defensive personality of a customs officer at Brussels airport. Lombard took full advantage, making five birdies on his front nine to turn in 31 before adding two more at the 11th and 13th.
His only dropped shot came at the 15th, but it barely left a bruise. Consecutive birdies on the way home repaired the scorecard, restored the rhythm, and gave him a one-shot lead after day one.
By close of play, Lombard sat at eight under, one clear of Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen and fellow South African Richard Sterne, both of whom signed for 64s.
Lombard Makes Morning Conditions Count
Opening rounds do not win tournaments, as every golfer knows and every leaderboard watcher temporarily forgets. But they do create tone, pressure and a faint sense of panic among those arriving at the first tee to discover someone has already posted a 63.
Lombard’s round had the rare quality of looking both aggressive and controlled. He attacked when the course offered him the invitation, then scrambled neatly when he wandered into the long grass of inconvenience.
The key moment came before the turn, when he missed fairways at the seventh and eighth but escaped with pars. Those saves kept the day upright. A birdie at the ninth then pushed him into his tougher inward stretch with momentum rather than mild irritation.
Zander Lombard: It was really cool. Starting this morning, perfect weather conditions, no breeze, greens were rolling tremendously, so it was fun to post a score early in the week, and see what it has in store.
I missed the fairway on seven and eight, and scrambled two good pars, and I think that kept the momentum to make an outside chance birdie on nine. That definitely kept the momentum going into that back nine, which, for me in my eye, is the tougher nine.
I felt like I really controlled the ball well, and even when I did miss, I missed it well to give myself chances to save par. So, all in all, it was a smart round of golf with two bonus extra shots.
Olesen And Sterne Keep The Heat On
Jacob Skov Olesen made his move from the 10th tee, building a 64 that was every bit as tidy as it was timely. The Dane produced eight birdies and just one bogey, including five birdies in a seven-hole burst across the turn.
It matched his lowest round of the season to date, a useful little piece of evidence that the swing and scorecard may be starting to exchange civilised letters again.
Richard Sterne, meanwhile, was the strongest of the afternoon starters. The 44-year-old South African went bogey-free, opening with three birdies in as many holes and adding another at the 17th, his eighth hole of the day. Three more birdies on the back nine took him to seven under and into a share of second.
For Lombard, Sterne’s presence near the top adds a familiar South African edge to the Soudal Open leaderboard.
Massively (important to finish the round strong), especially going into tomorrow. I talk about a lot with my caddie – it’s just keeping that momentum, and I’ve just lacked momentum the last couple of tournaments.
I’ve sort of played well for two out of the four rounds, and it’s going be nice to build on this for the week.I think we all feed of each other (South African players). There’s good camaraderie out there, and we’re all mates. So when one wins, the next definitely wants to follow up.
Vaillant Leads The Next Wave At Rinkven
France’s Tom Vaillant sits alone in fourth after a 65, close enough to make Friday interesting and far enough back to know there is work to do.
Behind him, a sizeable group at five under includes Scotland’s Cameron Adam, South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, Spain’s Jorge Campillo, France’s Martin Couvra, Denmark’s Jeff Winther, Italy’s Gregorio De Leo, Sweden’s Mikael Lindberg and Marcus Kinhult, and English trio Ben Schmidt, Andy Sullivan and Paul Waring.
That cluster gives the second round a bit of early-season traffic. Nobody is out of it. Nobody is entirely comfortable. Precisely how tournament golf prefers it.
Detry Leads Belgian Hopes As Colsaerts Begins Farewell
For the home crowd, Thomas Detry led the Belgian contingent with a three-under-par 68. It was not quite the fireworks some would have hoped for, but it keeps him in touch and leaves room for a Friday push.
Nicolas Colsaerts, meanwhile, opened with a 72 in what was described as the final opening round of his professional career. That gives the week a reflective tone for Belgian golf, particularly at an event where local identity matters as much as the leaderboard.
There was also a moment to remember for Eddie Pepperell, who marked his 300th start with an ace at the 15th. Golf has a cruel sense of humour most days, but occasionally it sends a bottle of champagne to the right table.
Lombard Has The Lead, But Friday Brings The Test
Lombard has the advantage after day one of the Soudal Open, but the job now is to turn a brilliant opening act into something sturdier. He has spoken plainly about lacking momentum in recent tournaments, playing well for two rounds rather than four.
That is the challenge now. The 63 was sharp, mature and nicely ruthless. But tournaments are not judged by first impressions alone.
Still, for one fine Antwerp morning, Lombard had Rinkven under control, the putter warm, and the leaderboard looking exactly how every golfer dreams it might: with his name at the top and everyone else doing the chasing.
