Manassero (16) sets course record of

65 at West Lancashire in 'Amateur'

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE
Thanks to a fantastic score of 65, seven under-par, Italy’s Matteo Manassero finds himself at the top of the leaderboard after day one of the 2009 Amateur Championship. The 16-year-old from Verona registered seven birdies and one eagle to set a course record at West Lancashire Golf Club this afternoon.
Currently ranked 46th in the world, Manassero won the Palla D’Oro Memorial Silva before finishing a respectable tied 11th at the St Andrews Links Trophy later in the same week. Today, two chip-ins and a three 2s helped Manassero on his way, and having come to the Championship with the ambition of making the cut, he now looks likely to qualify for the match-play stages.
“It was a fantastic round,” said the young Italian, “everything went my way. And to be leading The Amateur Championship after the first round is great!”
One stroke behind Manassero is Australia’s Matt Jager, who posted an exceptional round of 66 at Formby Golf Club. The current world No 13 carded five birdies and an eagle over the Sefton Links to take the early lead at six under-par.
During a three-week visit to the UK, his first, Jager has competed at the St Andrews Links Trophy and the Scottish stroke-play championship at Murcar Links, where he finished in 19th position.
And he was pleased that his mature approach to links golf, demonstrated by an eagle at the par-5 17th having reached the green with two four-irons, paid dividends.
“I’m delighted with the way I played,” he said after setting a course record. "I tried to avoid all the traps and just managed my game well.”
Back at West Lancs, Nigel Edwards managed a five under-par 67, which he achieved during the most testing conditions of the day. The round, which included six birdies and eagle at 16, leaves the four-time Walker Cup player only two strokes off the pace.
“Position in the fairway was key today,” explained the Welshman. “There’s no control out of the rough so you have to keep it in play.”
Last year’s champion, Reinier Saxton, has made a solid start to his title defence, opening with a 70 at Formby. The Dutchman is enjoying some decent form of late and is glad to be in the north-west of England to contest The Amateur.
“I had a few nerves on the first tee! But I’m very happy to be playing in this championship," he explained.
"It's nice to be here to defend my title."
Five players follow the top three after carding 68s. At Formby, Daan Huizing of the Netherlands, Sam Hutsby of England and Sweden’s Jesper Kennegard put themselves in strong positions, while at West Lancs, Germany’s Stephan Jager and Canadian, David Markle, achieved the same total.
Day-one also had a hole-in-one. Austria's Lucas Nemecz holing a seven-iron from 158 yards at the West Lancs' third hole.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
WEST LANCS
65 Matteo Manassero (Italy).
67 Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch).
68 Stephan Jaeger (Germany), David Markie (Canada).
69 Max Kieffer (Germany), James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale).
Scots' scores:
73 James White (Lundin), Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie).
74 David Law (Hazlehead), Philip McLean (Peterhead), Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn).
75 Paul O'Hara (Colville Park).
76 Steven McEwan (Caprington).
78 Wallace Booth, Jordan Findlay, Paul Ferrier.
FORMBY
66 Matt Jager (Australia).
68 Daan Huizus (Netherlands), Sam Hutsby (Liphook), Jesper Kennegard (Sweden).
69 Jack Bartlett (Worthing), Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes), James Byrne (Banchory), Rhys Enoch (Truro), Gavin Dear (Murrayshall).
Other Scots scores:
73 Ross Kellett (Colville Park).
75 Mark Hillson (Craigielaw), Peter Latimer (St Andrews), Gordon Yates (Hilton Park).
76 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh).
77 Scott Borrowman (Dollar0, Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth), Gordon Stevenson.
78 Neil Henderson (Glen).



Full day-two live scores and stories will appear on randa.org.