Fritelli, Van Rooyen well placed at RBC Heritage golf tournament

South Africans Dylan Fritelli and Eric van Rooyen are very well placed after the first round of the prestigious RBC Heritage golf tournament at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

Fritelli is one shot off the lead in a seven way tie for third, while Van Rooyen is two shots shy of the lead in a six way tie for tenth.

The RBC Heritage is the second tournament back for the PGA Tour, after a three month absence due to COVID-19.

Frittelli, ranked just outside the top fifty in the world, turned 30 some two weeks ago.

He was flawless at Hilton Head with six birdies in a round of 65, three on the front nine and three on the back nine.

Frittelli admitted that he was a bit unsettled last week as golf returned after the COVID-19 hiatus, but this week he is looking far more comfortable.

So much so that on the 18th hole, he had a chance to force his way into a share of the lead, however he had to settle for par and a share of third place with six other golfers.

A great start at the RBC heritage, but Fritelli knows he still has plenty more golf to play to separate himself from a very congested leaderboard.

Fritelli: “Just being consistent trying to hit fairways and greens not get rattled by the wind trust the compass know where the wind is and commit to shots last week I was a little mentally rusty I wasn’t able to focus and hit some committed shots but I feel way more comfortable on this course having played it two years ago”.

Ian Poulter of England leads the RBC Heritage, together with American Mark Hubbard on seven under, with plenty of big names lurking.

Webb Simpson of the United States is a shot off the leaders on 6 under, in that seven way tie for third.

And Jordan Spieth is together with Eric Van Rooyen of South Africa, and four others, at five under par, two off the leaders.