Robert Moran is off to a fine start at the Alps Tour’s Fred Olsen Alps de La Gomera at Tenerife’s Tecina Golf, and the Castle man is just outside the top 10.
Playing in the afternoon wave, Moran, who ranks fourth in the Alps Order of Merit, came out hot and birdied four of his opening nine holes, dropping one along the way to turn at -3.
It was steady as she goes on the back nine until he reached the par-5 17th. An eagle here moved him to -5, but a bogey at the last undid some of the good work, but he’ll be happy with his day’s efforts and the 67 leaves him tied for 12th, four shots off the lead and just two off second place.
Sam Murphy, who shot a one-under 70, is the only other Irishman in red figures and he lies tied for 43rd, while Hugh Foley sits the wrong side of the cutline in T67 at +1 after 16 pars, one birdie and a double bogey, while Cathal MacCanna got off to the worst possible start with a triple bogey but managed to play the next 17 in level-par in a rollercoaster round that also featured an eagle, two birdies and four bogeys.
Switzerland’s Maximilien Sturdza made eight birdies in a bogey-free effort that saw him shoot to the top of the leaderboard and take a two-stroke overnight lead.
The 26-year-old, who finished 11th last week at the UGolf Aravell Andorra Open, made his move with a superb stretch of five birdies in six holes between the 6th and the 11th, setting the pace after the opening day.
“I felt good when I woke up and just went through my normal warm-up,” Sturdza said. “I got off to a good start and it was nice to finish with a bogey-free round. I was four under through nine, and then the putts just kept dropping. I only missed one or two greens all day, which shows my game is in a good place. Over the next two days, I’ll just try to do the same thing, stay consistent and remain mentally present.”
Spanish duo Alfonso Buendia and Gonzalo Leal share second at -6, with an eight-strong group that includes three Frenchmen, two Italians, a German, a Spaniard, and a Dutchman sharing fourth at -5.
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