Christo Lamprecht ‘the Lamp Post’ leads the way with 66 at 2023 British Open

HOYLAKE, England — Christo Lamprecht stopped in the 18^th fairway at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on Thursday and took a mental photograph of his name on the famed yellow leaderboard at the 151^st British Open.

Everyone in the field was looking up at the 6-foot-8 South African, who is believed to be the tallest player ever to compete in golf’s oldest championship, but not for the usual reason. Lamprecht, a 22-year-old ranked third in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and playing collegiately at Georgia Tech, carded seven birdies and shot an opening-round 5-under 66 to grab a share of the lead with Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo. Lamprecht, who is the first amateur to hold the lead or co-lead after any round on the PGA Tour since Paul Dunne in the third round at the 2015 Open Championship, smiled after the round as he described how the view from the top of the leaderboard suited him just fine.