Soudal Open First-Round Leader Tips: Vote for van Tonder

Dave Tindall
10 May 2023
3:00 min read

South African Daniel van Tonder can go low early

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The DP World Tour heads to Belgium and Dave Tindall has three each-way bets to be first-round leader at Rinkven International...

80/1 Daniel van Tonder is in strong form
80/1 Alexander Knappe loves Belgium
50/1 Edoardo Molinari can thrive early

Weather forecast for Thursday: It's not a great one for the course that lies around 10 miles from Antwerp.

Rain is a threat throughout although the chances of the wet stuff are increased for the afternoon starters. Temperatures are fairly modest and the early wave will get going in something around 50 degrees. Not that the ball needs to fly far on this short course.

Overall, it's hard to find any particular bias between morning and afternoon.

Don't desert Dan

Daniel von Tonder carried some decent South African Tour form to Italy last week when he played his way into the final group.

A middle pair of 67s got him there and although he faded with a 72, fifth place on the DP World Tour is not to be sniffed at.

Van Tonder, a runner-up in April's Limpopo Championship, ranked 15th for SG: Approach in Italy and did pretty much everything well.

The South African was a winner of the Kenya Savannah Classic at Karen GC two years ago and that tree-lined course has some good correlation with this one.

In terms of fast starts, van Tonder has ended day one in the top 15 in three of his last five outings and 24th in another so a putt here and a putt there and he could make an impact.

Take the 80/1 on the 12.40pm starter.

Back Daniel van Tonder each way @

80/1

Take A Knappe

Another 80/1 shot appeals this week, Germany's Alexander Knappe.

Knappe was a double winner on the Challenge Tour last season and one of those - the B-NL Challenge Trophy - came here in Belgium.

In fact, Knappe has played four times on Belgian soil and boasts a win, a third and a fourth. In one of those he was the first-round leader with a 62 and in another a 64 put him second after 18 holes.

More recently, he was fourth after round one in Korea two weeks ago and an opening 65 put him third after the first lap of February's Thailand Classic.

Back to the Challenge Tour and he led October's English Trophy after round one.

Take Knappe, a 12.50pm starter, at 80s.

Back Alexander Knappe each way @

80/1

Relaxed Molinari can thrive

As a vice-captain gearing up for a Ryder Cup on home soil, Edoardo Molinari had plenty on his plate in last week's Italian Open.

It showed as he handed in a pair of 74s and missed the cut but, with the pressure off, this week could be a pleasant one for the Italian.

Before contesting his home Open, Molinari had banked three top 25s in four starts and just before that he was second after day one of the Ras al Khaimah Championship.

This course should suit and he showed it last year when finishing tied ninth.

Molinari hits off at 08.10am and is a 50/1 shot to be leader after day one.

Back Edoardo Molinari each way @

50/1

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