Challenge Tour fireworks in France

David Drysdale's great finish
to share first-round lead

By PAUL SYMES
Challenge Tour Press Officer
A sensational finish saw Scotland’s David Drysdale leap into a share of the lead on the opening day of the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne on the European Challenge Tour.
With six holes of his round left to play at the Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André in France, Drysdale – who started at the 10th – trailed leader Gary Clark of England by six shots.
But the Edinburgh-born 33 year old made birdies at the fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth holes, and added a superb eagle at the seventh to take a share of the lead on five under par 65.
Two-time Challenge Tour winner Drysdale, who recently finished 15th at the Estoril Open de Portugal on the European Tour, said: “I’m not quite sure where that finish came from, but I’ll certainly take it.
“I’ve been really struggling on the greens recently, but today a few putts dropped for a change. If the weather holds out, I’d expect to see some low scoring over the next few days. Minus 12 won the tournament last time, but I don’t think it’ll be the case again this year.”
Drysdale shares the lead with Clark, with former Ryder Cup player Joakim Haegmann of Sweden, Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey and France’s Charles-Edouard Russo a further shot back on 66.
The highlight of Hoey's round was an ace at the 15th.
Jamie McLeary and George Murray began with 68s and another Scot, Richie Ramsay, a 70.
Eric Ramsay and Andrew McArthur could be fighting to beat the halfway cut. They are currently bracketed on the three-over-par 70 mark.
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 70
65 G Clark (Eng), D Drysdale (Sco).
66 J Haegmann (Swe), M Hoey (NIr), C-E Russo (Fra).
67 M Zions (Aus).
68 A Högberg (Swe), A Butterfield (Eng), R Rock (Eng), S P Webster (Eng), J McLeary (Sco), D Horsey (Eng), A Marshall (Eng), G Murray (Sco), C Morariarty (Ire), R Bland (Eng), A Mork (Fra), S P Webser (Eng).
69 N Colsaerts (Bel), W Besseling (Ned), J Little (Eng), R McEvoy (Eng), A Brushi (Ita), S O'Hara (Sco), S Davis (Eng), G Davis (Eng), M Cort (Eng), C Brazillier (Fra).
70 R Ramsay (Sco), S Son-Houi (Fra), E Goya (Arg), A Gee (Eng), J Theunis (Bel), M King (Eng), B Evans (Eng), C Gane (E), T Milford (Eng), C Farrelly (Eng), M McGeady (Ire), L Bond (Wal).
Other scores:
71 C Menut (Fra), D Park (Wal), M Dieu (Fra), A S Hansen (Den), R Cabrera Bello (Esp), B Mason (Eng), G A Clark (Eng), L Matthews (Wal), G Boyd (Eng), O Whiteley (Eng).
72 S Benson (Eng); T Dier (Ger), M Higley (Eng), J Huldahl (Den), G Maybin (NIr), T Feyrsinger (Aut), A Tadini (Ita), J Clément (Swi), R Coles (Eng), R James (Eng), S Benson (Eng).
73 M Thorp (Nor), J-M Gougeon (Fra), A Tampion (Aus), E Ramsay (Sco), G Emerson (Eng), A McArthur (Sco), L Dodd (Eng).
74 L Gagli (Ita), M Quiros (Esp), I van Weerelt (Ned); J M Hoyos (Col), S Jeppesen (Swe); K Sullivan (Wal), P Rowe (Eng), J Hepworth (Eng), J Heath (Eng).
75 A Andersson (Swe), G Canizares (Esp), R Guillard (Fra), S Browne (Ire), I Goroneskoul (Fra), D Higgins (Ire), T Dykes (Eng).
76 D Wardrop (Eng), D Carter (Eng).
77 M D Smith (Eng), L Corfield (Eng).
78 N Walker (Eng).
80 A Willey (Eng).
143 players in the field.