There was an avalanche of two eagles and 24 birdies among the leading four golfers on day one of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.
American Paul Peterson, the French pair of Grégory Havret and Mike Lorenzo-Vera along with England’s Daniel Brooks enjoyed a share of the lead with six under par 64s.
Peterson claimed his first European Tour title just 11 days ago at the D+D REAL Czech Masters and his search for a second began with a six under par 64 at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
Lorenzo-Vera is a former Challenge Tour number one but is still searching for a maiden win on the European Tour, and he finished with four birdies in six holes to fire his best round since the Madrid Masters in 2009 and join Peterson at the summit.
Fellow Frenchman Havret has three wins to his name – although the last one came in 2008 – and he recovered from an opening bogey to join the leading group late in the day.
Brooks made back-to-back eagles on the 14th and 15th to catapult himself into contention as he seeks to add to his Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI win in 2014.
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts competing on day one of the 2016 Omega European Masters. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
There was then a group of nine players at five under, including defending champion and reigning Masters champ, Danny Willett.
Peterson started on the tenth with a birdie but recorded his only blemish of the day on the next before a hat-trick of gains from the 14th. Another birdie followed on the 18th and two more on the seventh and ninth took him clear.
“It felt really good to get off to a good start,” he said. “I was reading the greens well and putting the ball in play. I’m continuing my strong wedge game so I’m really happy.”
Lorenzo-Vera had a single gain on the front nine at the fifth but caught fire on the way home, making birdies on the tenth, 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th in a bogey-free effort.
“I knew I was playing well but it was just being consistent,” he said. “I managed to finish the last three holes in one under. I was really accurate all day so I’m very happy about that.
“I need some points in the Race to Dubai so I’m playing as well as I can.”
After his bogey on the first, Havret made a hat trick of gains from the sixth and added further birdies on the tenth, 12th, 14th and last.
“I’ve been home for a few weeks because of my new baby boy, so to come back here and play in tough conditions, I’m glad I did it well,” he said. “From the fifth hole you know you will have some opportunities if you hit good shots. It is another thing to do it.
“I had a few good putts but didn’t make them. I had a good birdie on the eighth from 20 feet.”
Brooks added four birdies and two bogeys to his pair of eagles en route to his own 64.
“I played both holes (14 and 15) really well,” he said. “I had an eight iron into one of them after a good drive and hit it to two feet and then a seven iron into the other one and hit that to two feet as well.
“I missed a few greens early on and hit some nice chips which keeps you going, then I hit some nice putts midway through the round to pick up the birdies. Hopefully a good night’s sleep now and same again tomorrow.”
