It’s a mark of the confidence that Max Kennedy has in himself that he was slightly disappointed he never gave himself a putt for the magical 59 but an opening round of 60 will more than do as he leads at the Blot Play9 in France.
Kennedy had to get up and down to save par on the ninth – his 18th – to shoot a ten-under round which included six birdies and two eagles where he holed a combined footage of over 60-feet and he leads by four shots with a host of players still on course at Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André.
“Yeah very happy. A very nice round, didn’t miss a lot of shots and was obviously nice to save a good par on the last. It would have been nice to give myself a chance on the last for 59 but still take a 60,” said The Royal Dublin man who arrived following his best finish to date on the HotelPlanner Tour last week.
The 23-year-old got off to the perfect start with a birdie on 10 before drilling a 6-iron into the heart of the par-5 11th and he rolled in the 45-foot eagle putt.
Kennedy added birdies on 12, 15 and 18 to turn in a superb 29 shots and a birdie on the first put him seven-under through ten holes and he was firmly on 59 watch.
A birdie on 5 kept his hopes alive and although he deems himself as a conservative approach player, he does boast an X-Factor and he found it with another eagle on the seventh to leave himself needing one birdie with two holes remaining.
It wasn’t to be but it is still a course record and career-low round for the HotelPlanner Tour rookie.
“Started on ten so nice birdie there, hit driver 6-iron to eleven and made a 45-footer that was pretty good. On the seventh, my 16th, I hit 3-wood, 4-iron to 20-feet and made a nice putt there too.
“I never try to attack pins I try to play conservative but sometimes you pull or push it towards a hole and you know it’s your day. When you don’t you know you will still have plenty of makable chances.
“I hit it pretty well today from tee to green and gave myself a lot of chances so I was happy with that.”
Following a T11 finish last week, Kennedy’s DP World Tour promotion bid might start to grow legs ahead of a summer run and he admits his performance in Czech Republic gave him the confidence he needed to push on.
“I was very confident I had my best finish last week in Czechia so my game is heading in the right direction so I feel really comfortable with where I’m at.
“You can be conservative or aggressive. I’m more of an aggressive player off the tee, left myself a lot of wedges and gave myself a lot of chances.”
The former Arnold Palmer Cup player earned himself a well deserved afternoon dip.
“Me and my brother who is on the bag this week we are probably going to go for a swim in the ocean, looks pretty good.”
Also in need of a good finish to boost confidence is 87th ranked Mark Power who is moving well on four-under after a back nine of 31 helped him to a round of 66 and he shares fourth place.
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