Eduardo Romero made an impressive return to competitive golf following stomach surgery to share the lead with Jim Rhodes after round one of the DGM Barbados Open, the first event of the 2006 European Seniors Tour Schedule.
The universally-liked Argentine had been sidelined since going under the knife before Christmas but showed few signs of rustiness as he negotiated the spectacular Royal Westmoreland layout in four under par 68.
It was a score that would be matched later in the day by Englishman Rhodes, to leave the pair one stroke clear of Delroy Cambridge of Jamaica, England’s Nick Job and South African Gavan Levenson.
“I was really pleased with the way I played after two months out. My health is strong now and so to was my game today. I putted very well,” commented Romero, who won on his European Seniors Tour debut at last year’s Wentworth Senior Masters.
The 51 year old rarely missed a putt and was helped in no small measure by the accuracy of his short irons, almost holing his approaches at the second and the 17th holes. He was out in one under par and while many others faltered over the back nine, Romero managed to pick up three shots thanks in large part to an eagle at the par five 11th.
Rhodes also singled out his putting after matching halves of 34 drew him level with Romero. Chastened by a torrid time on the greens during the practice pro-am on Tuesday, the 60 year old ditched his normal putter for a longer-handled one and witnessed a dramatic improvement.
“I wasn’t feeling very confident beforehand so I am absolutely delighted with my score,” said Rhodes. “The greens are difficult because of their grain, but I made a few nice putts today and, crucially, I did not three-putt.
“My eagle at 14 and birdie at 15 really made my round and from then on it was just a question of hanging on as the 16th and 18th are tough holes, especially in the wind.”
Cambridge, for one, would certainly agree. The powerful Jamaican tore up the middle stretch of the course with seven birdies in eight holes before relinquishing the lead with bogeys at 16 and 18. It was a touch unfair after a brilliant scoring spree, but he remains well placed alongside Job and Levenson.
A stroke further back in a share of sixth place are Giuseppe Cali of Italy, Scottish duo Martin Gray and Mike Miller, Americans Pete Oakley and Alan Tapie, and José Rivero of Spain, all of whom carded two under par 70s.
Scotland’s Sam Torrance, the defending Order of Merit champion, bogeyed the tough finishing hole for a one over par 73 while Denis O’Sullivan of Ireland, who won this event last year, struggled round in 76.
