John Murphy and Liam Nolan are tied for second after the opening round of the HotelPlanner Tour’s Danish Golf Challenge at Odense Eventyr Golf thanks to rounds of 66.
Murphy, fresh off a Clutch Pro Tour playoff victory at last week’s Crondon Park Classic, is playing on an invitation and making his first HotelPlanner Tour start of the season, and was out in the early wave. The Kinsale man began on the 10th and was steady over the first few hurdles, making five successive pars before birdieing the par-5 15th and then adding another on the par-5 18th.
With momentum behind him, he kept the foot down on the front, birdieing the first four to make it five-in-a-row, and though he couldn’t find any further birdies over the closing stretch, he kept blemishes off the card and signed for a six-under-66 that was one off the lead.
“It’s been a while since I’ve come to a HotelPlanner Tour event, so I’m not really feeling like I’ve got anything to lose,” said the 27-year-old.
Nolan, having impressed in his rookie pro season last year, has yet to catch fire in his six HotelPlanner Tour starts this year though he’s missed just one cut. The Galway man was among the late starters and birdied the 10th – his first – and the 15th to make the turn at -2. Another birdie on the third got him to three-under, but he couldn’t take advantage of the par-5 fourth and stood on the tee of his 17th hole still -3.
A grandstand finish was in store, however, as he eagled the par-5 eighth and then followed up with a birdie on nine to storm up the board and join Murphy in a share of second.
With 10 Irish in the field, hopes were always high that a couple would get themselves into good position going into the weekend, but the other eight all have work to do if they’re to find themselves with Saturday tee times.
Mark Power, who was also among the early starters, came out hot and birdied six of his opening nine holes – making two separate sets of three-in-a-row – as he went out in 30, but five bogeys and a double on the back left him needing to birdie the 18th to get back to level-par for the day. He managed it, but it leaves him tied for 68th alongside John Ross Galbraith who, like Murphy, is playing on an invitation.
James Sugrue, Max Kennedy and Ronan Mullarney are one shot further adrift and tied for 94th on +1, with Conor Purcell 114th on +2 and Gary Hurley, fresh off a tie for third at last week’s Challenge de Catalunya, and Dermot McElroy needing to go low after shooting three-over 75s.
Juan Salama made two eagles in his final four holes to take sole possession of the first-round lead.
The Spaniard, who is in just his third event of the season on the HotelPlanner Tour,
“It feels great, the putter was on fire so I’m happy with that and hope I can keep it going this week,” he said.
“I was able to pick good numbers with this wind. There were high winds from the morning until the end of the round, but I was able to keep patient and manage it well today.”
The 36-year-old graduated from the MENA Tour over the winter, using the same pathway as Chris Wood.
He came runner-up in the order of merit on the Middle Eastern Tour, behind the 2016 European Ryder Cup player, and is grateful for the chance he has now earned.
“It was great, the MENA Tour did a really good job to give us the opportunity to be here playing,” he added.
“I am enjoying playing here a lot, and let’s hope I can keep it going for the next tournament.
“I just want to keep focused on each shot and each hole, and try and give ourselves an opportunity on Sunday.”
Swede Adam Wallin joined Murphy and Nolan one back of the round one leader.
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