Young Australian Ben Eccles made a rip-roaring start to his European Challenge Tour career as the 21 year old carded a seven under par 65 in the opening round of the D+D REAL Czech Challenge to move to within one shot ofJordan L Smith’s lead.
Eccles, who won the New South Wales on the PGA Tour of Australasia last year as an amateur, is regarded as one of the many rising stars of golf in his home nation and those predictions certainly rang true at Golf and Spa Kunetická Hora.
Playing in the very first group from the first tee, Eccles carded seven birdies and not a single bogey to take an early lead on his Challenge Tour debut in Czech Republic, before being overtaken by the Englishman, and winner of the second tournament of this season in Egypt, Smith.
The Victoria player, who is a part of the ISM stable which manages Masters Champion Danny Willett among many others, was delighted with his start to the tournament and is feeling very comfortable in his new surroundings.
“It’s my first Challenge Tour event,” he said. “I turned professional in November and I’ve played a few European Tour events through invitations and through my status in Australia. I’m just happy to be here.
“I played amateur stuff in Australia for a few years and then after high school and then I managed to win a professional event as an amateur – the New South Wales Open, which I won by three shots. That gave me two years exemption on there and then I signed with ISM so Chubby has managed to get me some starts which is great. I’m loving it out here at the moment.
“I’ve wanted to play in Europe since I was a kid and getting European Tour starts is unreal but I just haven’t managed to take advantage of them yet. I’m just playing through the tough weeks, and to be able to do something this week would be nice.
“I’ve been to some pretty amazing places so far so I just want to get into more events and go on from there.
“It’s been great here so far. It’s a pretty awesome setting here in Czech Republic and I have never been here before so they run a really good ship here. If I can play well enough and get a card on the Challenge Tour and then work my way up through that pathway would be fantastic. The way I played today is a really positive sign for me in terms of where I want to go.”
Eccles is close friend with compatriot Nathan Holman, who won his first European Tour title at the Australian PGA Championship earlier this year, and he believes that success is breeding success when it comes to the game in his home country.
“I know Nathan quite well and I’m around him a fair bit to it was pretty inspiring when he won that tournament in Australia and to see what Adam Scott and Jason Day have done in the last few years has been pretty awesome. It’s just nice to be out here playing these events and hopefully I can take advantage of it.”
