Englishmen James Heath, Iain Pyman and Sean Whiffin share the first round lead at the European Challenge Tour’s Panama Masters after opening rounds of four under par 67 in the searing Latin American heat at the Summit Golf and Resort, Panama City.
Heath, who made his professional debut with a fourth place finish at the 47th Abierto Mexicano de Golf Mexican Open last November, followed up a birdie-bogey start with five birdies between his sixth and 13th holes to reach the five under par mark, but two bogeys and one birdie for the rest of his round left the 21 year old wondering what might have been at the end of the first days play.
“I finished quite poorly,” said Heath. “I three putted my last hole to make bogey and didn’t birdie the eight, which is an easy par five. So it was a bit disappointing.”
Pyman, the 2002 BMW Russian Open champion, continued the good form he displayed to finish in a tie for seventh at last week’s Costa Rica Open. The 31 year old was surprised to be in a share of the lead at this, the fifth joint sanctioned event with the Tour de las Americas (TLA) of the 2005 Challenge Tour season.
“A 67 is obviously a good round, but I am surprised someone hasn’t shot six or seven under, said Pyman. “I didn’t play well through the front nine. I chipped and putted very well. Then I played great through the back nine, but couldn’t make any putts.”
Londoner Whiffin, who is a TLA Member after winning his Card at the 2004 TLA Qualifying School in Florida, birdied three of his last seven holes to joint Heath and Pyman at the top of the leaderboard. His good performance on the last few holes included a chip in for birdie at the sixth, his 15th.
“I just started with a few putts, got up and down a few times, and made a few birdies on the par fives,” said the 34-year old Englishman after a sweltering day at the Summit Golf and Resort.
“I just cannot stop drinking water. Three weeks ago I was in London and it was barely 50 degrees. It’s boiling in here!”
Heath, Pyman and Whiffin are being hotly pursued by no less than seven players on three under par, with another 11 just one more stroke behind on two under par.
Belgium’s Didier de Vooght is the only European among those closest to the leaders, a group that also includes Challenge Tour Member Cesar Monasterio of Argentina and Mexico’s Juan Salazar, who went to the turn at the Summit Golf and Resort in a stunning 29 shots.
Salazar could not maintain that momentum in the blistering heat though, as he came home in 39 to join the seven strong chasing pack behind Heath, Pyman and Whiffin.
