RAYMOND RUSSELL SPARKLES WITH CHALLENGE TOUR SEVEN-UNDER 63

FROM SARAH GWYNN
European Challenge Tour Press Officer

Scot Raymond Russell set the pace in the first round of the Challenge Provincia di Varese with a superb seven under par 63.

In scorching heat at Golf Club Varese in northern Italy, the 39 year old produced a flawless round, which included three birdies in the last three holes, to lead by one from four players, including compatriot Andrew McArthur.

“That score was probably the worst it could have been today,” said Russell, who was limited to just two events on The European Tour last year because of a debilitating virus.

“I three-putted a par five, missed from four feet for birdie at the eighth and three feet for birdie at the ninth. But it was really solid. I just kept it in play and my iron play was very good. The longest putt I holed was eight to ten feet.

“It’s not a bomber’s course, which is perfect for me. You just have to keep it on the fairway and keep plodding along.

“My game has been showing signs of coming good. I played nicely last week for 27 holes and then not so good for the rest. But there’s a bit of momentum going.”

Despite having a medical exemption for The European Tour, Russell added: “I’m going to stick to the Challenge Tour for the rest of the season and try to get my card again that way.”

McArthur was grateful for a change in fortunes, having only made one cut from six appearances so far this season.

He said: “I’ve not been playing well at all, but today was half-decent. I holed a few putts and hit my irons a lot better, but I was just trying not to hit it in the rough. The course is set up beautifully, but it’s difficult.

“I didn’t hit many drivers or three-woods; I just hit it on the fairways with irons. I’ve been working very hard on my game lately and it’s been quite tough.

“It was good to make a decent start and maintain it. Before, even if I birdied the first couple I’d throw in a few bogeys and before you know it it’s a struggle. It’s been like that for a while, and not very enjoyable. Even if I’m under par, you wouldn’t believe the thoughts that go through my head.”

Scott Henry also started brightly with a three under par 67, one fewer than Chris Doak. Jack Doherty carded a 69, but it was more of a struggle for fellow Scots Callum Macaulay (72), Lloyd Saltman (73) and Gavin Dear (74).
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

63 R Russell (Sco) ,

64 J Walters (RSA) , N Lemke (Swe) , R De Sousa (Sui) , M Crespi (Ita) , A McArthur (Sco) ,

65 J Dantorp (Swe) , D Vancsik (Arg) , B Ritthammer (Ger) ,

66 F Elli (Ita) , S Kim (Kor) , A Tadini (Ita) , A Bruschi (Ita) , G Lockerbie (Eng) ,

67 F Keenan (Eng) , J Garcia Pinto (Esp) , S Henry (Sco) , A Domingo (Esp) , M Tullo (Chi) , A Maestroni (Ita) , C Mivis (Bel) ,

68 P Uihlein (USA) , P Relecom (Bel) , W Besseling (Ned) , C Doak (Sco) , J Hansen (Den) , E Bertheussen (Nor) , R Steiner (Aut) , A Kaleka (Fra) , M Korhonen (Fin) , S Bebb (Wal) ,

69 C Lanza (Ita) , T Remkes (Ned) , A Bossert (Sui) , R Karlberg (Swe) , A John (Ger) , R Dinwiddie (Eng) , M Delpodio (Ita) , S Benson (Eng) , M Quiros (Esp) , C Paisley (Eng) , M Cryer (Eng) , B Åkesson (Swe) , A Hansen (Den) , V Riu (Fra) , N Henriques (Por) , L Goddard (Eng) , H Bacher (Aut) , D Gaunt (Aus) , G Watremez (Bel) , N Ravano (Ita) , J Doherty (Sco) , A Parr (Can) , A Tampion (Aus) , A Levy (Fra) , S Tiley (Eng) ,

70 E De La Riva (Esp) , D Geminiani (Ita) , C Ford (Eng) , P Dwyer (Eng) , O Henningsson (Swe) , P Archer (Eng) , M Glauert (Ger) , M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) , K Eriksson (Swe) , J Clément (Sui) , G Houston (Wal) , M Ford (Eng) , M Higley (Eng) , J Lima (Por) , C Hanson (Eng) , G Stal (Fra) , S Jeppesen (Swe) , M Madsen (Den) ,

71 A Perrino (Ita) , S Engell Andersen (Ken) , R Quiros (Esp) , F Calmels (Fra) , A Kristiansen (Nor) , H Mu (Chn) , L Jensen (Den) , F Praegant (Aut) , C Brazillier (Fra) , S Davis (Eng) , A Rota (Ita) , R McGowan (Eng) , L Beneduce (Ita) , I Elvira (Esp) , T Ferreira (RSA) , A Gee (Eng) , M Kieffer (Ger) , F Fritsch (Ger) , M Bothma (RSA) , A Signor (Ita) , J Heath (Eng) , J Abbott (Eng) , B Pastore (Ita) , F Laporta (am) (Ita) ,

72 Å Nilsson (Swe) , J Gibb (Eng) , M Cidonio (Ita) , L Kennedy (Eng) , B Chapellan (Fra) , S Piaget (Mon) , A Bernadet (Fra) , L Canter (Eng) , T Cruz (Por) , R Wingardh (Swe) , C Moriarty (Irl) , A Snobeck (Fra) , C Macaulay (Sco) , J Barnes (Eng) , E Kofstad (Nor) , F Delamontagne (Fra) , S Strange (Aus) , R Echenique (Arg) ,

73 L Saltman (Sco) , J Wahlqvist (Swe) , J Kaske (Fin) , M Erlandsson (Swe) , A Knappe (Ger) , C Gane (Eng) , P Bech (Esp) , S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) , S Pinckney (USA) , A Bolognesi (am) (Ita) , G Garbin (am) (Ita) , L Scotto (am) (Ita) , F Zucchetti (am) (Ita) , F Bergamaschi (am) (Ita) ,

74 C Lloyd (Eng) , R Kakko (Fin) , G Dear (Sco) , R Schneider (Fra) , G Molteni (Ita) , J Maurer (Aut) , T Feyrsinger (Aut) , B Ahlenback (Swe) , B An (Kor) , A Otaegui (Esp) , G Baruffaldi (Ita) ,

75 K Samooja (Fin) , M Gojcic (Slo) , N Bertasio (Ita) , G Clark (Eng) , P Gal (Cze) , B Evans (Eng) , D Brooks (Eng) ,

76 A Rosado (Por) , J Van Der Vaart (Ned) ,

77 M Haines (Eng) , N Lombardi (Ita) , C Günther (Ger) ,

79 U Weinhandl (Aut) ,

83 N Meitinger (Ger) ,

86 C Kaiser (Ger) ,