DP World Tour
Soudal Open Round 1: Lombard Lights Up Belgium, Our Pick Falls Short
Zander Lombard has stolen a march on the field at Rinkven International, firing a stunning 63 to lead by a shot after 18 holes. The South African sits at 8 under, with Jacob Skov Olesen and Richard Sterne chasing hard at 7 under. This is proper scoring in Belgium. The pack behind them is dense, with 11 players bunched at 5 under, meaning the tournament remains very much alive heading into Round 2.
Our Pre-Tournament Pick
Jose Luis Ballester hasn’t made an immediate impact here. Our pre-event selection shot a 1-over 70 and sits well outside the top 15, needing a significant response in Round 2 to get back into contention. The Spaniard faces a must-do situation from this point: rounds in the 60s are routine at Rinkven if you’re in the groove, and he needs to prove he can find that rhythm fast.
Who’s in Contention
Lombard’s lead is real but fragile. One shot back, Skov Olesen and Sterne are perfectly positioned to strike if Lombard stumbles. Skov Olesen in particular looks sharp at 7 under, and he’s got the course management experience to exploit any weaknesses in Round 2. Tom Vaillant sits a further shot back at 6 under, a solid foundation from which to build.
The chasing pack at 5 under is where things get interesting for bettors. Paul Waring, Andy Sullivan, Jorge Campillo, and Thriston Lawrence are all right there with realistic winning chances. At 22/1 and 20/1 respectively, Waring and Sullivan offer decent value if they can find a low round in the next 18 holes.
Round 2 Betting Angles
First, watch for Lombard to feel pressure. An 8-shot lead is imposing on a leaderboard, but Rinkven is a track where conditions can change quickly. If the wind shifts or pins get trickier, his cushion evaporates fast. Skov Olesen has the experience to hunt him down methodically.
Second, back the chasing pack for low rounds. Eleven players at 5 under means the field is clustered tight. Whoever finds a 64 or 65 in Round 2 could wake up leading the tournament. Waring and Sullivan have proven form on DP World Tour events and sit at appealing odds for a charge up the board.
Finally, keep tabs on Ross Fisher. The Englishman is just one shot off the lead according to reports, which puts him right in the mix. If he’s knocking on the door already, he’s one hot round from a genuine podium finish.
Our Updated Pick
Odds: 22/1 – bet365
Waring sits at 5 under, just three shots behind Lombard and very much in the mix for a low Round 2. At 22/1, he offers genuine value for a player positioned well on the leaderboard with momentum. Rinkven can be torn apart by players with form, and Waring has the game to exploit a second round surge.
Top 5 After Round 1
| Pos | Player | R1 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zander Lombard | 63 | -8 |
| 2 | Jacob Skov Olesen | 64 | -7 |
| 3 | Richard Sterne | 64 | -7 |
| 4 | Tom Vaillant | 65 | -6 |
| 5 | Mikael Lindberg | 66 | -5 |
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