PGAs of Europe international team championship in Spain

Simpson’s Six Appeal Puts Wind In England’s Sails

but Scotland make slow start to be lying ninth

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England’s Paul Simpson made light of the windy conditions to blow the opposition away in the first round of the PGAs of Europe International Team Championship at Roda, Spain.
Simpson, the head professional at West Berkshire Golf Club, fired a scorching six-under-par round of 66, as England closed on seven-under to establish a six-shot advantage at the head of the 24-strong field.
With each team comprising three players and the two best scores counting, the 38-year-old Simpson was aided and abetted by Kedleston Park’s Paul Wesselingh who posted a one-under-par 71. The third member of the trio, Twyford Golf’s Jeremy Robinson carded 76.
The highlight of Simpson’s round, which included six birdies and two bogeys, came at the par four 300-yard 6th.
“My drive landed 15 feet from the pin and I holed the putt for an eagle,” explained Simpson, whose game was neither hindered by the strong wind nor the lack of a practice round.
“There were some cross winds, which made things a bit tricky,” he added. “And I arrived late so I wasn’t able to have a practice round. Neither seems to have done me any harm.”
While Simpson thrived in the conditions, others foundered in the chase for the 6,000 Euros first prize.
Defending champions Ireland were indebted to John Kelly’s two-under-par to end the day in joint-second place alongside Belgium, Wales and the United Arab Emirates.
Gilles Monville proved the Belgians’ star performer by posting three-under-par, a total that was eclipsed by the UAE Simon Payne’s four-under, while James Lee (one-under) and Jason Powell (level) kept Wales in the hunt.
Scotland, multi-winners of the title in the 1990s, made an indifferent start to be lying ninth on three-over-par 147. Robert Arnott matched the par of 72 and Colin Gillies had a 75. Mark King had the non-counting round of 80.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2x72, best two from three scores to count daily)
137 ENGLAND (Paul Simpson 66, Paul Wesselingh 71, Jeremy Robinson 76).
143 IRELAND (John Kelly 70, Peter Martin 73, David Ryan 77), WALES (James Lee 71, Jason Powell 72, Andrew Barnett 73), UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Simon Payne 68, Richard Sheridan 75, Stuart Fee 81), BELGIUM (Gilles Monville 69, Manoel Willems 74, Mathieu de Lille 77), (jt 2nd).
144 FINLAND (Sakari Aho 70, Jyry-Jussi Peltomaki 74, Jarkko Raski 78) (6th).
Selected score:
147 SCOTLAND (Robert Arnott 72, Colin Gillies 75, Mark King 80) (9th).

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