Ronan Mullarney bounced back from his playoff disappointment at Open Championship Final Qualifying to card a four-under 67 on day one of the Alps Tour’s Fred Olsen Alps de La Gomera in the Canary Islands.
The 2023 Alps Tour Order of Merit winner had his Open hopes dashed on the third playoff hole at West Lancashire when Estonian amateur Richard Teder holed out for eagle from 80 yards to claim the final qualification spot at the venue, and Mullarney spent the interim travelling by road, air and sea to reach the small island off Tenerife, but he didn’t let the disappointment carry over into his opening round.
Seven birdies – including five in a seven-hole stretch either side of the turn – saw him end the day inside the top 10 and as the leading Irishman, with Marc Boucher two shots behind.
The Dubliner edged Mullarney by one in the birdie count, but a double along with four bogeys leaves him tied for 35th at -2.
Michael Young and Hugh Foley are locked together at -1 and tied for 47th, and they’ll likely need another round in red figures if they’re to have tee times for the third and final round on Saturday.
Italian Marco Florioli’s seven-under gives him the solo lead with the Spanish duo of Javier Barcos and veteran Alvaro Quiros who has seven DP World Tour victories to his name.
Just one shot back, France’s Quentin Debove joins five Spanish players: Juan Salama Monsalve, Alfonso Buendia, Borja Martin, Javier Calles Roman, and Hugo Esposito, all within striking distance in tomorrow’s second round.
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