NORRET SETS PACE WITH FIVE-UNDER 67 IN AUSTRIAN OPEN

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Denmark’s Thomas Nørret established the clubhouse target at the Austrian Open presented by Lyoness with a five under par 67.
The 37 year old Qualifying School graduate is currently 173rd on The Race to Dubai and needs a big end to his season in order to retain his card.
And he made a perfect start at Diamond Country Club, carding seven birdies and two bogeys in his round - the highlights being a 20 foot birdie putt on the third and a 30 foot effort from the fringe two holes later.
“I hit a lot of good iron shots and holed a lot of putts,” he said. “The greens here are fantastic and I managed to the read the right way today so it's nice to make a great start.
“It was cold this morning and the wind picked up as the day went on, but I managed to pick the right shots today."
At five under Nørret led by two from Scot Gary Orr, Iceland’s Birgir Hafthorsson and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, all of whom were round in 69.
Like Nørret, the chasing trio all have work to do in order to start 2012 with a European Tour card.
Hafthorsson has been plying his trade on the Challenge Tour, but took advantage of a chance to appear on The European Tour with five birdies and two bogeys.
Orr is 132nd on The Race to Dubai - the top 115 retain playing privileges - and a 20 foot birdie on the fifth was one of four shots gained against a solitary bogey on the seventh.
Bhullar, a Challenge Tour winner earlier this year, tuned in a three under 33 before coming home in level par.
They were joined by afternoon starter Daniel Gaunt, the Australian racing to three under through seven.
Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington was one under after six, while Miguel Angel Jiménez, the highest-ranked player in the field, went round in a one over 73.
Walker Cup heroes Tom Lewis and Paul Cutler enjoyed mixed fortunes on their professional debuts - Lewis carding a two over 74 and Northern Irishman Cutler finishing five over - leaving both with work to do in order to make the cut and earn a first cheque.

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