All five Irish players have work to do to make the 36-hole cut at the Alps Tour’s Andorra Open after a bruising opening round at UGolf Aravell Andorra.
In searing heat, Sam Murphy’s one-over 72 was the pick of the bunch, but having reached the 14th at two-under and with three par-5s to come, to play those three holes in +3 and end the day tied for 55th will be disappointing having hung in admirably for the first two thirds of the round.
Cathal MacCanna is next best at +2, where he’s part of an 18-strong group sharing 71, with Robert Moran and Hugh Foley one shot further back at +3.
Amateur Stephen Grant dropped four shots over his final four holes to end the day on +5, but he’s only nine shots off the lead with the scoring proving tough for all 144 participants.
Maximilien Sturdza from Switzerland, Anton Vazquez Muinos of Spain, France’s Alexandre Vandermoten, Lars Keunen from the Netherlands, Manfredi Manica of Italy, and Spanish amateur Pau Sanchez Marin Spain share the lead in a six-way tie at -4, with a further seven players one shot behind on the heavily bunched leaderboard.
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