CHRIS DOAK LEADS SCOTTISH CHALLENGE WITH
A 72 IN COLD, DAMP AND BLUSTERY FRANCE

From Michael Gibbons,
Challenge Tour Press Officer

Former Northern Open champion Chris Doak overcame the cold, damp, blustery conditions to lead Scotland’s Challenge Tour hopes at the AGF Allianz Open des Volcans – Challenge de France today.
The 2005 Tartan Tour No. 1 from Greenock carded a one-over-par 72 at the Golf des Volcans in Clermont Ferrand to lie five shots behind runaway leader Michael Lorenz-Vera of France, whose 67 gave him three stroke lead.
Doak may have shot over par, but he is well in contention in 13th place with three rounds to go.
Chris had birdies at the second, sixth, 11th and 15th in halves of 38 and 34.
Scott Henderson is in joint 89th position after a 77 which included back-to-back double bogeys - a 7 at the par-5 sixth, and a 6 at the par-4 seventh, in halves of 41 and 36. He did birdie the 16th.
Edward Thomson had a 78 (39-39) and Alasdair Hay a 79 (43-36).
With the projected cut 150 (2 x 75), these three Scots need to pull up their socks in the second round.
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
67 M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra).
70 B-T Lecuona (Fra), S Juul (Den), G Acosta (Arg), G Paddison (NZ).
71 S Delagrange (Fra), S Manley (Wal), J Thalamy (Fra), C Gane (Eng0, A Velasco (Spa), F Cupillard (Fra), A Snobeck (Fra).
Scots scores:
72 C Doak (jt 13th).
77 S Henderson (jt 89th).
78 E Thomson (jt 103rd).
79 A Hay (jt 117th).