Nick Job laboured admirably through extremely difficult conditions at The International in Amsterdam as the Englishman finished with consecutive birdies to share the clubhouse lead with compatriot Simon P Brown midway through day one of the Dutch Senior Open.
The morning groups had to battle with wind, heavy rain and cold temperatures and Job did just that as he bounced back from a double-bogey at the 16th to finish with back to back birdies and card a one under par 71.
The beautiful yet challenging International course, which is right next to Amsterdam Schipol Airport, was having no issues in dealing with the heavy rain which fell early in the day and Job was full of praise for how it held out, while also expressing delight with his score in such circumstances.
“We had semi-torrential rain almost the whole way through so it was a good score,” said the 64 year old. “I've got a good caddie and he helped me through it.
“The course is playing really good and the greens aren’t flooded or anything, it’s in great condition. It’s a tough golf course, tough pins and not many tees are forward so it’s playing long and it was very cold.
“I love airplanes so I was watching them fly overhead, inspired by them you might say! It’s a good tough track out there.
“There were a few tough holes, especially the 12th, a par four where neither me nor Chris (Williams, his playing partner) could reach with good tee shots and three woods up so that is long.
“At the 16th I popped it in the sand and it was like quicksand in those conditions so it’s hard to get the ball out. I nearly holed the putt for five but then I birdied the next two holes so that was nice. It was a nice way to finish.”
Brown, meanwhile, is chasing a second victory of the season after claiming his maiden title at the Russian Open Golf Championship (Senior) last month and he got off to a perfect start as he birdied his opening two holes, the tenth and 11th.
He lost his momentum though, with a bogey at the 12th before reclaiming that dropped shot with a birdie at the next but a double-bogey at the 16th followed by a bogey at the 17th took him to the turn in one over before two birdies on the way home, including one at nine, moved him to the summit alongside Job.
