In-form American Peter Uihlein carded a stunning nine under par round of 63 to take the clubhouse lead midway through the opening day of the Kazakhstan Open, two shots clear of Seve Benson and Lasse Jensen at the top in the European Challenge Tour’s ‘Major’.
Uihlein has been on a superb run of form, recording top ten finishes in all of his last five starts on the Challenge Tour, and he got off to the perfect start at Zhailjau Golf Resort thanks to an incredible eight birdies and one eagle.
Having teed off on the 10th hole, the Massachusetts man birdied four holes before dropping his only shot of the day at the par 17th hole. Back to back birdies at the second and third, followed by two more at the fifth and seventh, moved him to seven under par for the day.
He put the icing on the cake of a fine day’s golf at the 341 yard par four eighth hole, where he drove the ball to just three feet before knocking in for an eagle two.
“It was a good day,” said the 23 year old. “It was the first day I've putted well in a while. I putted badly in Russia last week so I've spent a lot of time on it preparing for this week so it’s nice to see results so quickly.
“I'm just hitting it well at the moment. I went through a spell of just really hitting it poorly and I'm starting to hit it better again and I really appreciate hitting it so well and feeling good out on the course.
“I'm just trying to take it like any other tournament out there. I did that today and it’s nice to get off to a good start but there are three more days so anything can happen."
Benson was in tied second place as the afternoon starters teed off after the Englishman signed for a seven under par round of 65 which included two eagles in the space of four holes before the turn in favourable conditions at the Almaty venue.
After starting with back to back birdies at the first and second holes, a bogey at the fourth halted his progress but only briefly as he chipped in from the edge of the green for eagle at the par five fifth hole.
The 2012 Barclays Kenya Open champion followed that up with another eagle at the par four eighth after driving to eight feet before rolling in the resultant putt to reach the turn in five under par and three birdies and another bogey saw him home in seven under to move into contention for a fourth Challenge Tour title.
“I managed to keep the momentum going out there when I could have maybe lost a little bit,” said the 25 year old. “I got up and down when I needed to and I felt like I putted well today but other than that it wasn’t a lot different from previous weeks to be honest.
“I've been working really hard on my game, on the mental side as well as the playing side and if it happens it happens this week but I'm just going to persevere and see if I can get to where I want to get to."
Benson was later joined by the player he beat in a play-off to win in Kenya this year, Denmark's Jensen, who carded a bogey-free round of 65.
