Ronan Mullarney and Gary Hurley are tied for second and just one shot off the lead after an opening day where strong winds were a major factor at the HotelPlanner Tour’s Dormy Open in Sweden.
Both men were among the early starters and made the most of the slightly calmer early morning conditions.
Galway man Mullarney started on the 10th and birdied three of his opening nine holes and made the turn as the wind was really beginning to crank up. He managed to play the front nine in level-par, making birdies on four and eight, but each time giving the shot back on the next, but he was more than satisfied with his opening effort and full of praise for Kristianstad Golf Club and Destination.
“We got seven or eight holes pretty calm, then it really started to pick up and just as we’re finishing it’s really blowing,” he said. “It was really good, but I suppose like everyone else out there, you’re just battling the weather.
“It’s a really good course. At dinner with the lads during the week, we were saying that it’s one of the most well-rounded courses we’ve ever played; it tests all parts of your game. It’s not short, it’s not overly long, the par-3s are incredible, and it’s maybe the best conditioned course we’ve played this year. But in that wind, you really had to control the ball out there.
“I don’t know that I’d say I enjoy playing in the wind, but yeah, maybe I do. If I play well, I enjoy it anyway. But some course aren’t made to be played in the wind, and this one is, so although there’s run-offs and stuff, a low ball-flight definitely isn’t a hindrance here.”
Hurley was playing three groups behind Mullarney and played his first nine in one-under after two birdies and a bogey. But where most were struggling to hang in with the conditions, he went bogey-free on the front and picked up further birdies on six and eight to draw alongside his fellow countryman.
Mark Power, at level-par and sharing 28th, is next best of the Irish, with Conor Purcell and James Sugrue at +1, but it was a day to forget for Max Kennedy who played his first nine holes in +6 but managed to limit the damage on the front to remain on that number.
Alfie Plant was the only man to reach the clubhouse at -4 and holds a one-stroke lead over the six-strong group that includes Mullarney and Hurley.
The two-time HotelPlanner Tour winner was pleased with his overall performance on a particularly challenging Kristianstad lay-out.
“There was some really good stuff, and it was really tricky out there,” he said.
“The course is fantastic and probably the best we’re going to play all year so it’s nice to post an early score but there’s plenty of golf left and some tough weather conditions coming in.”
“I started to hole a few putts coming in which was nice and I made a nice birdie on the eighth after finding myself a little bit out of position,” he added.
“I was looking to keep it as stress free as possible, which is easier said than done but I did it well today.”
“They can tuck the flags here and they have some big run-offs if you’re too cute with your approach shots so it’s easy to make a bogey here but it’s a fair course where you can have plenty of chances.
“I’ve been playing nice and steady this year and have been in and around the lead at times so let’s see what this week brings.”
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