Report from opengolf.com Shane Lowry has given him the best possible chance of appearing at the 150 th Anniversary Open Championship after...
Report from opengolf.com
Shane Lowry has given him the best possible chance of appearing at the 150thAnniversary Open Championship after an opening-round 62, eight under par, left him two clear of the field at International Final Qualifying — Europe. Despite only reaching the turn one stroke under the card, the Irishman, who became the third amateur to win on the European Tour when he claimed the Irish Open last year, registered six consecutive birdies in a seven-under-par back-nine.
Two putts of 20 feet on the 10th and 11th holes, followed by a 60-foot monster on the 442-yard, par-4 12th, were the catalyst for the 23-year-old from County Offaly, as he went on to come home in 28 and tie Nick Faldo’s Sunningdale Old Course record.
“I played lovely all day. Tee to green I was really good,” he said. “Now I need to try and play the golf course for the next round and keep up the momentum and confidence.”
Matteo Manassero had set the early pace at IFQ with a faultless sic-under-par 64. The Italian, who won the Silver Medal at Turnberry last year, then aged just 16, made six birdies and 12 pars on the Old Course to give himself the best possible chance of making his first Major Championship since turning professional.
The Veronese, 17, said: Obviously, after last year, it’s important to get back to St Andrews, especially as it’s the 150th anniversary. I have good memories of the Championship.”
Manassero is joined on 64 by Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, Spain’s Ignacio Garrido, German Marcel Siem and Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland.
Maybin’s 64 was the best of the morning rounds on the New Course. An opening bogey was quickly forgotten as the 29-year-old bagged seven birdies, five of those coming in a back nine of 30.
Conversely, Siem’s 64 came courtesy of a front nine completed in 30 strokes on the Old Course. An eagle at the 492-yard, par-5 first was followed by two birdies, a bogey and, remarkably, another eagle on the ninth — Siem holing from 60 feet after putting a three-wood onto the green from the tee.
“It was good, especially the front nine,” he said. “I just couldn’t hole anything on the back nine. I had chances so it could’ve been better. It gives me a chance to finish it off now though.”
England’s Paul Broadhurst, Alastair Forsyth of Scotland, Frenchman Francois Delamontagne, Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and South African James Kingston are all three of the lead after opening-round 65s.
An early bogey at the 475-yard, par-4 fourth proved to be Kingston’s only blemish as he made birdies at the sixth, ninth, 12th and 13th, before completing a five-under-par 65 with an eagle at the 18th.
“It was a great way for me to finish and that will really help,” explained Kingston. “I’ve played a few Opens before, but never a St Andrews one. That would be the dream Open — fingers crossed!”10 places are available in the 150th Anniversary Open Championship.
Shane Lowry has given him the best possible chance of appearing at the 150thAnniversary Open Championship after an opening-round 62, eight under par, left him two clear of the field at International Final Qualifying — Europe. Despite only reaching the turn one stroke under the card, the Irishman, who became the third amateur to win on the European Tour when he claimed the Irish Open last year, registered six consecutive birdies in a seven-under-par back-nine.
Two putts of 20 feet on the 10th and 11th holes, followed by a 60-foot monster on the 442-yard, par-4 12th, were the catalyst for the 23-year-old from County Offaly, as he went on to come home in 28 and tie Nick Faldo’s Sunningdale Old Course record.
“I played lovely all day. Tee to green I was really good,” he said. “Now I need to try and play the golf course for the next round and keep up the momentum and confidence.”
Matteo Manassero had set the early pace at IFQ with a faultless sic-under-par 64. The Italian, who won the Silver Medal at Turnberry last year, then aged just 16, made six birdies and 12 pars on the Old Course to give himself the best possible chance of making his first Major Championship since turning professional.
The Veronese, 17, said: Obviously, after last year, it’s important to get back to St Andrews, especially as it’s the 150th anniversary. I have good memories of the Championship.”
Manassero is joined on 64 by Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, Spain’s Ignacio Garrido, German Marcel Siem and Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland.
Maybin’s 64 was the best of the morning rounds on the New Course. An opening bogey was quickly forgotten as the 29-year-old bagged seven birdies, five of those coming in a back nine of 30.
Conversely, Siem’s 64 came courtesy of a front nine completed in 30 strokes on the Old Course. An eagle at the 492-yard, par-5 first was followed by two birdies, a bogey and, remarkably, another eagle on the ninth — Siem holing from 60 feet after putting a three-wood onto the green from the tee.
“It was good, especially the front nine,” he said. “I just couldn’t hole anything on the back nine. I had chances so it could’ve been better. It gives me a chance to finish it off now though.”
England’s Paul Broadhurst, Alastair Forsyth of Scotland, Frenchman Francois Delamontagne, Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and South African James Kingston are all three of the lead after opening-round 65s.
An early bogey at the 475-yard, par-4 fourth proved to be Kingston’s only blemish as he made birdies at the sixth, ninth, 12th and 13th, before completing a five-under-par 65 with an eagle at the 18th.
“It was a great way for me to finish and that will really help,” explained Kingston. “I’ve played a few Opens before, but never a St Andrews one. That would be the dream Open — fingers crossed!”10 places are available in the 150th Anniversary Open Championship.
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