Another strong back nine helped Liam Nolan into the top-10 on day one of the Hainan Open in China as he continued his fine form after his maiden professional win last week.
Last week’s victory vaulted Nolan into the all important top-15 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings to lie 12th. He has started well again with a five-under 67 to sit in a share of 7th place at Sanya Luhuitou GC, five shots behind Spain’s Joseba Torres.
The Galway man is projected to move from 12th to 9th in the rankings after firing six birdies with just one bogey.
Nolan showed there was no post win hangover and was out of the traps early with back to back birdies. After dropping a shot on the par-4 9th he rallied impressively with three birdies in four holes on 10, 11 and 13. His strong finish was complete with a birdie on the 17th to lift him into contention again.
Gary Hurley’s late bid to make the top-45 over the next two events and qualify for the Grand Final at the end of the month started brightly with a three-under 69 to share 28th place.
Hurley was two-over after nine holes of his opening round but put together a super back nine effort of 31 to turn his day around.
The West Waterford man birdied the 10th, 11th and 13th like Nolan and powered to the clubhouse with back to back birdies to finish. He is projected to move from 53rd to 51st in the rankings.
At the top, Torres fired a flawless ten under par round of 62 to hold a three-stroke lead after the opening round.
The Spaniard was blemish free, making ten birdies on the day to dismantle Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club and move clear of the chasing pack.
Torres, who is teeing it up in China for the first time, described the day as one where everything went his way.
“Everything worked out today,” he said. “I played very good, made a few putts.
“I missed one shot on the first and was in the rough, then I chipped it in so I think everything worked out.
“I had a good group today it very easy going. It was very fun today.”
Four players find themselves tied three adrift of Torres, with Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen, South Africa’s Justin Harding, China’s Mingrui Ma and England’s Callum Farr all shooting seven under par rounds of 63 to share second place. Thailand’s Newport Laparojkit holds solo sixth on six under par following an opening 66.
Scoring HERE
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