Jonathan Gøth-Rasmussen fired a nine under par 63 to lead by two after the first round of the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge supported by Finnish Golf Union.
The Dane took apart Vierumäki’s Cooke Course, making nine birdies to move ahead of Finland’s Kalle Samooja and France’s Julien Sale.
Gøth-Rasmussen was pleased that he was able to card a clean round and take advantage of the calmer conditions that facilitated low scoring on Thursday.
“It was really nice,” he said. “This morning the weather was just perfect, and it was beautiful out there.
“I drove it well, hit it really close, and made lots of putts from inside 10 feet. My ball striking was really good.”
Starting on the back nine, Gøth-Rasmussen made a quick start, finding birdies on his second and third hole, before five more gains would come in a six-hole stretch around the turn.
The 28-year-old made a smart up-and-down to take advantage of the short par-four sixth after narrowly avoiding a water hazard, before closing out his round with a birdie four on the par five ninth.
Despite this being the two-time HotelPlanner Tour winner’s third year on the Road to Mallorca, it was his first appearance at the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge, with the course one he thinks suits his eye.
“The course did fit my game quite well. It’s fairly straightforward out there. I like tree lines because it makes it easier to see where you’re going and get good targets. I enjoyed that,” he added.
It hasn’t been an easy season for Gøth-Rasmussen, who currently lies 104th in the Road to Mallorca Rankings with only one finish inside the top 20, coming in the shape of a share of twelfth at the Danish Golf Challenge.
But he showed better signs at last week’s Irish Challenge, making the weekend after rounds of 71 and 65, and ultimately finishing in a share of 28th as he starts to find his game.
“Yes, I’m building some momentum. I’ve been hitting it better and better recently so it’s nice to keep it going. The game feels a lot better now.
“I’ll hit a few balls this afternoon, and then just relax and read a book for the rest of the day.”
The top ten was rounded out by a group tied at six under, made up of America’s John Catlin, England’s Charlie Forster, Spaniard Javier Barcos Garbayo, Danish duo Hamish Brown and Kristian Hjort Bressum, Swedish duo Adam Blomme and Christofer Blomstrand, and the German trio of Tiger Christensen, Philipp Katich and Hurly Long.
Meanwhile, Mark Power is the best of the Irish in a share of 27th on four-under after an eventful 68 that included eight birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey.
After a first top-10 of the season at the Irish Challenge, the Mount Juliet man picked up where he left off as he fired three birdies in six holes. He doubled the par-3 7th before picking up a fourth birdie at the 8th. A bogey on the par-5 9th brought a frustrating end to the front nine.
The 26-year-old showed his form on the back nine with three birdies in a row on the 12th, 13th and 14th before adding another on 16. The par-3 curse struck again with a bogey on 17.
Liam Nolan is on three-under and shares 41st after a 69 while Dermot McElroy and Ronan Mullarney are on one-under after a 71. James Sugrue had a day to forget after a five-over 77.
Scoring HERE
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