Conor Purcell said the opening round of the Delhi Challenge was a tale of two nines as he carded a four-under 68 to lie just three shots off the day one lead in India.
Purcell made the turn at five-under but slowed up on the back nine and had to settle for a share of 19th place, while Steven Brown and Martin Couvra lead on seven-under.
“A tale of two nines,” reflected Purcell who opened his campaign with a birdie on the 10th before making three in a row from the 13th and added a fifth birdie of the day on 18. The Portmarnock man dropped shots on the 3rd and 7th but was pleased to hole a momentum saving birdie on the 9th.
“I started out really hot I was five-under after nine playing the back nine and then I hit one poor tee shot on 3 and made bogey and then I was sloppy coming in, but nice to birdie the last and shoot a decent round.
“It’s nice to make six birdies and limit the mistakes, the short game was tidy so hopefully continue it. I was solid and gave myself a few chances so more of the same.”
Despite slowing down on the front nine – his back nine – the 26-year-old feels like he can give himself more chances on Friday if he keeps hitting it well.
“There’s chances on each side and keeping it play off the tee you have loads of birdies chances and hopefully I can keep it in play tomorrow.
“The greens can be tricky, I read them well and had good speed so if you keep it in play you can have lots of chances with wedges.”
Elsewhere, Gary Hurley is next best of the Irish on two-under after an opening 70 while John Murphy and Challenge Tour debutant Alex Maguire are level-par.
Englishman Brown made three birdies on the front nine before adding four more without a bogey on the back nine to jump into the lead. His score however was matched by in-form Frenchman Couvra who carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey.
The duo lead by one from a large chasing pack, including Frenchmen Andoni Etchenique and Pierre Pineau, Englishmen John Parry, Jack Senior and James Allan, Swede Rikard Karlberg and Joshua Grenville-Wood from the UAE.
Brown arrived late to India, but after going bogey-free on the final day of the Magical Kenya Open on the DP World Tour two weeks ago, was delighted to continue that run of form on the parkland layout.
“I played really well so I can’t complain,” he said. “I found something with my swing yesterday and played well in practice so I couldn’t ask for more.
“I was bogey-free in Kenya in my last round before coming here, so I’m on to something at the moment, I’ve just got to keep it going.
“I hit loads of good shots and played pretty solid. I think I missed one green and holed a couple of decent putts which always helps.”
Couvra, who sits tenth on the Road to Mallorca Rankings ahead of back-to-back events in India, also impressed on the greens, holing long putts at the second, 13th and 15th.
The 20-year-old became only the seventh amateur to win on the Challenge Tour when he triumphed at the Challenge de España last year, and having turned professional soon after, he thinks that experience is paying dividends already in 2024.
“I’m really happy with my game today,” he said. “The greens were very quick but I liked it, it was good to test myself on them. The course is in great shape.
“The win last year was pretty good for me and gave me a lot of confidence for my game this year. I know the setup now, I know the feeling of the tournaments and I know a lot of the guys that I’m playing with which helps.”
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