Finland’s Välimäki leads in AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Finland’s Sami Välimäki shot a first round of 10 under par 62 to lead the €1 million AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on the DP World Tour.

The final tournament on the DP World Tour in 2022 is being held over the 7,051 yards, par 72 course at Mont Choisy Le Golf, Grand Baie, Mauritius.

Välimäki had matching nines of 31, each with five birdies and no bogeys to establish a new course record.

The 24 year-old, looking for his second career victory on the DP World Tour, has played three events this season and said after his round, ‘It was a really nice round. I putted of course really good and made some longer ones. It was great to get it rolling, I have not made any putts over the last couple of weeks. I found a rhythm and the speed of the greens and that was the key for the day.’

Välimäki takes a two shot lead into tomorrow’s second round from playing partner 38 year-old Oliver Bekker (RSA) who shot an eight under 64 with an eight birdie - no bogey round with three birdies on the front nine and five birdies on the back nine, in the match of the day.

They are paired again in tomorrow’s second round in a threeball along with Richard Sterne (RSA) with a 7.10 am tee time from the 10th tee.

Pierre Pineau (Fra), coming off a top-ten finish at the ISPS Handa Australia Open two weeks ago, made birdies at the third, fifth and seventh to reach the turn in 33, before dropping his only shot of the day at the tenth.

He responded with four straight birdies from the 12th and an eighth of his round at the last, after a perfectly judged chip, took him to seven under.

JC Ritchie (RSA), starting from the 10th, was on track for a 65 of his own until a bogey four at the eighth meant he had to settle for six under.

Niklas Lemke (Swe) was five under after a stirring birdie-eagle finish with a long putt at the last. That was the second eagle of an eventful back nine also containing three birdies and a double bogey, in contrast to nine pars on the outward half.

Last week's Alfred Dunhill Championship winner Ockie Strydom (RSA) continued his good start to the season with a three-under-par 69.

First Round Leaders

Sami Välimäki (Finland) 62 (-10)
O. Bekker (South Africa) 64 (-8)
P. Pineau (France) 65 (-7)
J. C. Ritchie (South Africa) 66 (-6)