Rookie senior Wolstenholme leads

Casa Serena Open in Czech Republic


From Michael Gibbons, European Tour Press Officer
Gary Wolstenholme conjured a brilliant eagle two to soar into a share of the lead with Australian Mike Clayton at the European Senior Tour’s Casa Serena Open in the Czech Republic today
The Englishman, a two-time British Amateur champion and Walker Cup regular during a glittering career in the un-paid ranks, continued his excellent start to life as Senior professional with an opening round of five under par 66 at the stunning Casa Serena Golf to join Clayton at the top of the leaderboard
Wolstenholme began his Senior Tour career at Woburn two weeks ago and secured a place in this week’s field thanks to his third place on his Senior debut.
He continued that rich vein of form in the Czech Republic, producing a perfect wedge approach to the par four 16th hole that took one hop towards the hole before tracking all the way to the bottom of the cup for that outstanding eagle two.
“It was funny actually because I made a stupid bogey on the 15th so I was a bit annoyed with myself,” said Wolstenholme who is hoping a strong finish at Casa Serena can secure full playing privileges for the 2011 Senior Tour.
“But I managed to get a nice drive away and then had a perfect yardage for the mid-wedge which I had been hitting well all day. It bounced once about eight feet out and rolled straight in which I was naturally delighted with.
“It was very important for me to get off to a good start today because it is a bit of a sprint over a three round tournament and to avoid going to the Tour School I need to make around €50,000.”
If Wolstenholme can produce another third place finish on Sunday he will win enough of the €600,000 prize fund on offer to have accomplished his mission, but there are plenty of players looking to deny the new kid on the block with 36 holes to play at Casa Serena.
If Clayton can replicate his putting performance over the next two days then he will be a hard man to beat. The Australian received a few putting tips before heading to the Czech Republic and he put them to devastating use during his own first round of 66, holing out from outside 20 feet four times.
“I played well out there today, it was good,” said Clayton. “The biggest difference has been the putting. I was terrible at Woburn a couple of weeks ago so it was better today. I got a putting lesson from Chris Moody after Woburn and that has helped.
“I played with Moods on Monday and he gave me a couple of little tips that seem to be helping and I made some crazy ones out there today which was quite surprising. I was expecting to wake up at some point and realise what was going on!”
Clayton and Wolstenholme lead England’s Mark Belsham and sponsor’s invitation Peter Dhalberg of Sweden by a single stroke at Casa Serena Golf, Paraguayan Angel Franco and Englishman Andrew Murray a shot further back on three under.
Carl Mason’s quest to record a history-making 24th Senior Tour title got off to a solid start after an opening round of 69 saw him form part of a seven-man tie on two under.

FIRST ROUND
Par 71
66 M Clayton (Aus); G Wolstenholme (Eng);
67 P Dahlberg (Swe); M Belsham (Eng);
68 A Franco (Par); A Murray (Eng)
69 G Brand Jnr (Sco); R Drummond (Sco); C Williams (RSA); A Sowa (Arg); C Mason (Eng); M Cunning (USA); L Carbonetti (Arg);
70 M Farry (Fra); D Smyth (Irl); J Gould (Eng); G Ryall (Eng); J Cañizares (Esp); D Durnian (Eng);
71 J Bruner (USA); J Rivero (Esp); B Smit (RSA); P Mitchell (Eng); D Russell (Eng);
72 A Oldcorn (Sco); N Job (Eng); J Harrison (Eng); I Mosey (Eng); T Johnstone (Zim); D O'Sullivan (Irl); A Fernandez (Chi); T Giedeon (Ger); P Teravainen (USA); G Brand (Eng); B Cameron (Eng);
73 J Chillas (Sco); P Oakley (USA); B Lane (Eng); G Cali (Ita); J Quiros (Esp); F Mann (Sco); B Hardwick (Can); T Charnley (Eng); K Spurgeon (Eng);
74 G Banister (Aus); M Gray (Sco); M Bembridge (Eng); J Hall (Eng); J Rhodes (Eng); S Owen (Nzl); M Miller (Sco); B Ruangkit (Tha); D Cambridge (Jam);
75 H Carbonetti (Arg); J Heggarty (Nir); D Hospital (Esp); B Longmuir (Sco); B Lincoln (RSA); A Johnsson (Swe); E Darcy (Irl);
76 D Johnson (USA); D Merriman (Aus); M Harwood (Aus); M Williams (Zim); C Rocca (Ita); G Ralph (Eng); S Bennett (Eng); S Torrance (Sco); M Piñero (Esp);
77 J Seifert (Cze); P Fowler (Aus); R Chapman (Eng);
78 E Rodriguez (Esp); N Ratcliffe (Aus);
79 J Juhaniak (Cze);
82 M Poxon (Eng); G Hopkins (USA);
85 A Garrido (Esp);
** E Polland (Nir) ,