Hodgkinson, Poncelet share Alps Tour lead in Italy

FROM THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE
Englishman Adam Hodkinson and Frenchman Xavier Poncelet shared the first-round lead in the first Alps Tour event in Italy this season. They signed for 66, six under par, neither dropping any shots on the course of Montecchia near Padova..
Hodkinson, 21, turned pro two years ago and won the Alps Tour qualifying stage at the end of 2008 but he struggled a bit with his game last year. He had two good weeks in Austria last month where he had two top 10 finishes
Xavier Poncelet, 24, , made a great 7th place at the beginning of the season in Morocco but since, had some difficulties to sort out. Today score could be the launch of his season.
In third position came another Frenchman, rookie David Antonelli, one stroke behind. The first Italian player, Alessandro Grammatica, is two strokes behind the lead at fourth position tie with Slovenian Gregor Slabe.
Gavin Dear and Steven Hume from the Murrayshall Hotel & Course, near Perth, are sharing 11th place on 70.
The projected cut is +1.
Agathe Séron
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
66 Adam Hodkinson (England), Xavier Poncelet (France).
67 David Antonelli (France).
68 Gregor Slabe (Slovenia), Alessandra Grammatica (Italy).
Selected scores:
69 Jason Palmer (England), Jason Barnes (England) (jt 6th).
70 Steve Hume (Scotland), Gavin Dear (Scotland), Neil Chaudhuri (England) (jt 11th).
72 Ricki Neil-Jones (England), Nicholas Murtagh (England) (jt 23rd).
73 Matthew Baldwin (England), Matthew Cryer (England) (jt 35th).
74 Daniel Coughlan (England), Duncan Muscroft (England), Lawrence Dodd (England) (jt 47th).