The Locker Room :: Tournament Report

Angel Cabrera in charge

Angel Cabrera lived up to his reputation as the overwhelming pre-tournament favourite when he moved into the lead after the first round of the 102nd Abierto Visa de la República presentado por Peugeot at Buenos Aires Golf Club.

Making a rare appearance on the European Challenge Tour, the reigning US Open champion said in the run up to the event that he was coming to win and he backed those comments with an opening four under par 66 and the outright lead.

The 38 year old Argentine took advantage of the benign conditions earlier in the day to lead by one over his fellow countryman and friend, the vastly experienced Eduardo Romero, who holds the solo second spot in the event co-sanctioned with the Tour de las Americas after opening with a 67.

Cabrera showed his intentions early on with a birdie at the first and an eagle three at the sixth helped him to two under par through eight holes before he produced back to back birdies at the ninth and tenth.

With the wind picking up, scoring became tougher on his back nine and the man who defeated Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk at Oakmont Country Club in June, had to be content with eight par figures to finish.

“I played very well, I only missed three greens and my ball striking was pretty solid today,” said Cabrera. “It’s always good when you start a tournament shooting under par.”

After finishing second in the event the last two seasons, Cabrera’s sights are set on capturing it for the third time in his career. “Although I still have a tournament left, to be played next week in South Africa, a win here would be a great way to finish the year at home,” he said. “This tournament is always a special one for me,” he went on to say.

Eduardo Romero, an eight-time champion on The European Tour and a Senior Tour Major winner, has gone close on many occasions but only claimed the title once, that victory coming in 1989, although he did lose in a play-off to José Cóceres at Buenos Aires Golf Club in 2004.

“I’ve been close several times, but I just couldn’t win more than that once 18 years ago,” said the 53 year old. “This year I feel confident though as I’m hitting the ball well.”

Six players shared third place after opening with respective 68s including the rising star of Argentine golf, Andres Romero, who finished second to Miguel Rodriguez in last week’s Abierto del Litoral Personal on the Challenge Tour and who, of course, came to international prominence in July when he finished third in The Open Championship at Carnoustie.

Rodriguez himself will have a bit of work to do if he is to carry on his dream of back to back titles to open the 2008 Challenge Tour season after having begun his campaign with a five over par 75.


European Challenge Tour
102nd Abierto Visa de la Republica presentado por Peugeot: December 6-9, 2007
Buenos Aires Golf Club, Argentina: Par 70

Leading first round scores (Argentina unless stated):

66 – A Cabrera
67 – E Romero
68 – B Parker (Eng), S Fernandez, D Vanegas (Col), A Romero, B Coalthalem (Fra), E Martinez (am)
69 – M Guzman, A Rocha (Bra), B-T Lecuona (Fra), R Bechu (Fra), R Aranda, I Weintraub (USA),
70 – M Haastrup (Den), A Sowa, M Bliss (Can), D Vancsik, A Wagner, J Coceres, G Rojas, H Carbonetti, C Cardeza, E Grillo (am)
71 – J Estevez (am), F Gomez, M Soria, A Bernadet (Fra), R Gonzalez (Arg), F Cabrera (Arg), A Villavicencio (Gtm), M Ruiz (Par), J Amaya (Col), W Miranda, R Gomez, C Carranza, K Harper (Eng), B Alvarado (Chi), C Machado
72 – V Fernandez, A Snobeck (Fra), T Weiss (Sui), M Soria, R Echenique, M Haremza (Ger), A Schmidt Hansen (Den),