NEWS
Michael Jonzon shoots 64 on day of hot weather and hot scoring as Peter Baker and Adilson da Silva turn up heat in order of merit title. Michael Jonzon of Sweden shot an eight-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of
the MCB Tour Championship at Constance Belle Mare Plage on a day that saw the MCB Race to Mauritius title become ever more intriguing.
Jonzon made three birdies from the 2nd and turned in 32 before picking up further shots at the 10th, 11th, 16th and the stunning par-3 17th to lead by a stroke from Austria’s Markus Brier and Euan Macintosh of Scotland on the Legend course. There were fireworks in the last group that contained MCB Race to Mauritius leader Peter Baker and second-placed Adilson da Silva.
Brazilian Silva began with four consecutive birdies in what must have looked an ominous performance for his playing partner. Englishman Baker leads the order of merit but can be caught if the Brazilian significantly outplays him this week at Constance Belle Mare Plage. However Baker - the 1993 Ryder Cup player - stood firm, picking up shots at the 1st, 6th, 9th, 15th and 18th to shoot a stellar five-under 67 under extreme pressure.
Da Silva bogeyed the 11th and despite his scintillating start found himself remarkably one behind Baker after the 15th but he responded with birdies on 16 and 18 to match his opponent’s 65 and leave the battle for the MCB Tour Championship as well as the MCB Race to Mauritius title beautiful poised ahead of day two. Da Silva needs at least 284 points to overtake Baker and while the permutations are complicated if, say, Baker finishes 10th, the Brazilian would need to finish second alone to overtake him in the MCB Road to Mauritius.
McIntosh birded the 4th, 6th and 8th then came home in a blistering 32 shots including a four at the risk-reward par-5 18th.
The oldest winner of the Scottish Amateur Championship at Blairgowrie in 2018 when he won at the age of 49, McIntosh then turned pro and earned his place on the Legends Tour via a tie for second at Q School at Pestana in 2019. Austria’s Brier made eight birdies but dropped a shot at the short 11th to sign for a 65 in a tie for second.
English pair Van Phillips - winner of the 2006 Mauritius Open - and Robert Coles are in a four-way tie for fourth on five under alongside Baker and Da Silva.
Peter Fowler of Australia, Germany’s Thomas Gogele and New Zealander Michael Long are in touch at four under after a day of hot scoring – 18 players shot in the 60s – and hot weather in the Indian Ocean.
