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Muntz leads Dutch Open as Ryder Cup hopefuls do well

21/08/2008

Home favourite Rolf Muntz carded a superb first round six-under-par 64 to lead the Dutch Open at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club in Zandvoort.

Muntz, who has struggled on tour since winning the Qatar Open in 2000, struck six birdies and no bogeys to take a one stroke lead over Britain's John Bickerton and Denmark's Soren Hansen.

All eyes on the first day were fixed at potential European Ryder Cup representatives. The likes of Justin Rose, Oliver Wilson and Darren Clarke were all looking to secure spots in team Europe.

Wilson lies currently in ninth position in the race to make the Ryder Cup, and he made a solid start to this tournament by carding a first round one-under-par 69.

Former Ryder Cup hero Clarke is hoping for a wildcard for the prestigious event. Clarke was looking good at four-under, but two bogeys in the last two holes saw him finish on two-under-par.

Rose, who is in eight place in the Ryder Cup standings, returned early from America so he could play in this event and secure a Ryder Cup spot. The Englishman carded a round of three-under-par 67, but later admitted he wasn't feeling on top of his game.

"It must have been three o'clock when I got to sleep - I had a coffee at dinner and there must have been rocket fuel in it," Rose explained.

"I wasn't as rested as I would have liked, but I got away with it. I didn't play particularly well, but I guess I managed it well. When you are a pro you learn how to make the most of your game when you are not tip-top.

"I'm really pleased - I knew coming here that there would be a lot of attention on the Ryder Cup, but I just had to try to get into the mindset of playing tournament golf."