Vincent takes two-shot lead in Rabat with Zimbabwean flair
Vincent shot a brilliant seven-under par-66 on Friday at the par-73 Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course, the best round of the tournament so far, to reach a two-day total of nine-under 137.
Despite a disappointing three-putt bogey on his final hole (the ninth of the golf course) he had done enough good work to jump to the top of the leaderboard, two shots clear of Australian Maverick Antcliff (70).
American Peter Uihlein (72), a two-time International Series champion last year, threatened to overtake Vincent in the evening. However, after reaching nine-under through 14 holes, he made three bogeys in his last four holes to drop down to a tie for third place at six-under par. He was joined there by the Thai Suteepat Prateeptienchai (67).
Defending champion Ben Campbell made a determined move with a 68 and was tied at 141 alongside John Lyras (71) of Australia, Charlie Lindh (69) of Sweden, Ekpharit Wu (70) of Thailand and Yanwei Liu (70) of China.
The cut fell at one-over par-147.
Vincent started from the 10th tee, and the 33-year-old made a brace of birdies on the 11th and 12th holes, then another on the 17th and 18th, and another on the second and third to get to six-under at that point.
'It actually feels a lot like the golf courses I grew up playing on in Zimbabwe, so there's a bit of a home vibe going on. The grass is the same. Someone just told me today that they imported all the grass from Zimbabwe here, so that's kind of cool.
There's definitely something about being on African soil that just feels great,' said Vincent.
'It was awesome. A lot of things went really well, so very happy about that. But tons of golf left.'
Talking about his form this year, he added: 'It's just the ups and downs of golf. I think we kind of find some form, lose some form, and it's just part of what we do.
'I feel like I'm doing a lot of the same things that I've been doing for quite a few years, and maybe just tightening up on a few little things. But overall, it feels like it's the same, and I feel like I'm the same, and just doing the same things.'
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The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Vincent takes two-shot lead in Rabat with Zimbabwean flair
Scott Vincent is enjoying a solid 2025 – finishing inside the top 12 in seven of his 10 worldwide starts. Playing on African soil and on a golf course that has grass imported from his home country Zimbabwe, could just be the tonic that secures his first win of the season as he took a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the US$2 million (RM8.4m) International Series Morocco. Vincent shot a brilliant seven-under par-66 on Friday at the par-73 Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course, the best round of the tournament so far, to reach a two-day total of nine-under 137. Despite a disappointing three-putt bogey on his final hole (the ninth of the golf course) he had done enough good work to jump to the top of the leaderboard, two shots clear of Australian Maverick Antcliff (70). American Peter Uihlein (72), a two-time International Series champion last year, threatened to overtake Vincent in the evening. However, after reaching nine-under through 14 holes, he made three bogeys in his last four holes to drop down to a tie for third place at six-under par. He was joined there by the Thai Suteepat Prateeptienchai (67). Defending champion Ben Campbell made a determined move with a 68 and was tied at 141 alongside John Lyras (71) of Australia, Charlie Lindh (69) of Sweden, Ekpharit Wu (70) of Thailand and Yanwei Liu (70) of China. The cut fell at one-over par-147. Vincent started from the 10th tee, and the 33-year-old made a brace of birdies on the 11th and 12th holes, then another on the 17th and 18th, and another on the second and third to get to six-under at that point. 'It actually feels a lot like the golf courses I grew up playing on in Zimbabwe, so there's a bit of a home vibe going on. The grass is the same. Someone just told me today that they imported all the grass from Zimbabwe here, so that's kind of cool. There's definitely something about being on African soil that just feels great,' said Vincent. 'It was awesome. A lot of things went really well, so very happy about that. But tons of golf left.' Talking about his form this year, he added: 'It's just the ups and downs of golf. I think we kind of find some form, lose some form, and it's just part of what we do. 'I feel like I'm doing a lot of the same things that I've been doing for quite a few years, and maybe just tightening up on a few little things. But overall, it feels like it's the same, and I feel like I'm the same, and just doing the same things.'
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Feeling a bit of Zimbabwe in Rabat, Vincent claims two-shot lead
Scott Vincent is enjoying a solid 2025 – finishing inside the top 12 in seven of his 10 worldwide starts. Playing on African soil and on a golf course that has grass imported from his home country Zimbabwe, could just be the tonic that secures his first win of the season as he took a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the US$2 million (RM8.4m) International Series Morocco. Vincent shot a brilliant seven-under par-66 on Friday at the par-73 Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course, the best round of the tournament so far, to reach a two-day total of nine-under 137. Despite a disappointing three-putt bogey on his final hole (the ninth of the golf course) he had done enough good work to jump to the top of the leaderboard, two shots clear of Australian Maverick Antcliff (70). American Peter Uihlein (72), a two-time International Series champion last year, threatened to overtake Vincent in the evening. However, after reaching nine-under through 14 holes, he made three bogeys in his last four holes to drop down to a tie for third place at six-under par. He was joined there by the Thai Suteepat Prateeptienchai (67). Defending champion Ben Campbell made a determined move with a 68 and was tied at 141 alongside John Lyras (71) of Australia, Charlie Lindh (69) of Sweden, Ekpharit Wu (70) of Thailand and Yanwei Liu (70) of China. The cut fell at one-over par-147. Vincent started from the 10th tee, and the 33-year-old made a brace of birdies on the 11th and 12th holes, then another on the 17th and 18th, and another on the second and third to get to six-under at that point. 'It actually feels a lot like the golf courses I grew up playing on in Zimbabwe, so there's a bit of a home vibe going on. The grass is the same. Someone just told me today that they imported all the grass from Zimbabwe here, so that's kind of cool. There's definitely something about being on African soil that just feels great,' said Vincent. 'It was awesome. A lot of things went really well, so very happy about that. But tons of golf left.' Talking about his form this year, he added: 'It's just the ups and downs of golf. I think we kind of find some form, lose some form, and it's just part of what we do. 'I feel like I'm doing a lot of the same things that I've been doing for quite a few years, and maybe just tightening up on a few little things. But overall, it feels like it's the same, and I feel like I'm the same, and just doing the same things.'
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Seine reopens to Paris swimmers after century-long ban
PARIS: The River Seine reopened to swimmers this morning in Paris, allowing people to take a dip in the French capital's iconic waterway for the first time since 1923. Parisians and visitors looking to cool off this summer can dive in -- weather permitting -- at three bathing sites, including one a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower. A few dozen people arrived ahead of the 8am opening on Saturday at the Bras Marie zone in the city's historic centre, diving into the water for the long-awaited moment under the watchful eyes of lifeguards wearing fluorescent yellow T-shirts and carrying whistles. The seasonal opening of the Seine for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics, when open water swimmers and triathletes competed in its waters which were specially cleaned for the event. The swimming zones are equipped with changing rooms, showers, and beach-style furniture, offering space for 150 to 300 people to relax, lay out their towels, and unwind from the city's hustle and bustle. Paris officials say they have taken several measures to ensure swimmers can safely enjoy the long-anticipated reopening, including daily water pollution testing and implementing a swim test for bathers. "It's a childhood dream to have people swimming in the Seine," said Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who visited the bras Marie site this morning. But officials reminded swimmers of potential dangers, including strong currents, boat traffic, and an average depth of 3.5m. "The Seine remains a dangerous environment," said local official Elise Lavielle earlier this week. To mitigate that risk, lifeguards will assess visitors' swimming abilities before allowing independent access, while a decree issued in late June introduced fines for anyone swimming outside designated areas. The promise to lift the swimming ban dates back to 1988, when then-mayor of Paris and future president Jacques Chirac first advocated for its reversal, around 65 years after the practice was banned in 1923. "One of my predecessors (Chirac), then mayor of Paris, dreamed of a Seine where everyone could swim," President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, describing the move as the result of a "collective effort" and a moment of "pride" for France. Ahead of the Olympic Games, authorities invested US$1.6 billion to improve the Seine's water quality. Since then, work carried out upstream, including 2,000 new connections to the sewage system, promises even better water quality -- with one catch. On rainy days, the mid-19th-century Parisian sewage system often overflows, causing rain and waste waters to pour into the river. Flags will inform bathers about pollution levels in the water every day, and if it rains, the sites will likely close the day after, said Paris city official Pierre Rabadan. The presence of the faecal bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci in the Seine will be assessed daily using live sensors and samples. Swimmers may be in luck this year, though, with weather predicted to be drier than the record rainfall during the Games, which had led to the cancellation of six of the 11 competitions held on the river. The French capital during the week endured a major heatwave that saw Paris put on the weather agency's highest alert level during a Europe-wide heatwave. Hidalgo, who took the inaugural swim last year, said that cleaning up the Seine for the Olympics was not the final goal but part of a broader effort to adapt the city to climate change and enhance quality of life. With record-breaking temperatures hitting Europe, including France's second warmest June since records began in 1900, authorities said they expect Parisians to embrace the relief of a refreshing swim. The swimming spots will be open until Aug 31. — AFP
