
New Zealander Sam Jones hit his first career albatross on Thursday, taking a two-stroke lead at the Soudal Open.
Jones, a DP World Tour tour rookie, shot a 9-under 62 in Antwerp, Belgium, after holing his second shot from 273 yards on the par-5 17th hole at Rinkven International Golf Club.
England duo Andrew Wilson and Matthew Jordan are among five players tied for second at 2 under par, along with Nacho Elvira, Romain Langask and Niklas Norgaard.
Jones, 27, had three birdies and a bogey on the front nine, followed by four more birdies before capping off a great day with an albatross.
“At first, I was going to shoot three shots, but I tried to stack them (on 17).” Jones explained. “I was thinking about 3 irons on the tee shot, but I hit 3 woods, pulled it a little, and hit it well.”
There he hit three trees into the breeze.
“We were already going well at that stage, so I didn’t think it would be a big deal if we got a bogey here,” he said. “I just called him to hit it, flush it, and do it well in the air, and he did.”
Jones arrived in Belgium after missing the cut in four of his last five events.
Watch the DP World Tour Belgian Otter Open live on Sky Sports Golf from 12pm on Friday
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