ROSS DRUMMOND SHARES SENIORS LEAD IN GERMANY

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Bernhard Langer moved menacingly towards the top of the leaderboard at the European Senior Tour’s Pon Senior Open in his native Germany after an opening score of four under par 68 – shot in the poorest conditions of the day – saw him move to within one stroke of the lead.

The former Masters champion powered through the cold and damp afternoon conditions at the Winston Golf resort in northern Germany to notch five birdies and just a single dropped shot to get within one stroke of first round leaders Ross Drummond (pictured above) and Terry Price.

“It was a solid round and a good score because the conditions were tough out there in the wind and the rain,” said Langer.

“I started really well and was two under through three but then had a terrible shot on the fourth and made a few bad swings after that. Thankfully I got it back and made a couple of good birdies on the back nine to finish with a good score.

“The score could have probably been a few strokes better because I created a few really good other chances on the back nine but just couldn’t hole the putts.

“But I am happy with the position – one stroke is nothing when you consider we have 36 holes to go here. That is a lot of golf so even if I was more than one behind I would still be feeling confident about my chances to win.”

Drummond and Price were among the earlier starters and enjoyed favourable conditions as they put together a fine pair of five under par 67s. Both men were generally satisfied with their respective day’s work despite feeling they had left a few chances out on the course.

“That round was very close to being the one I need to make me feel really good about my game again,” said Price, who fired six birdies and just a single dropped shot over the demanding Winston Open course.

“I played pretty well and the conditions were pretty tough out there at times, but I left a few shots out there so it wasn’t quite the round I need to get my confidence really back up to where I need it.

“That has kind of been the story of my year out here really: a few good round here and there but never really putting it together for a whole week. That’s why the results have been pretty average.”

Drummond, meanwhile, had a very similar assessment of his first round performance. Having made a lightning fast start of four birdies in his opening six holes, the Scot was a little disappointed not to push on and record a really low score.

“After the start I made I suppose it could have been better but it was tough out there and I am happy enough with the start,” said Drummond, who finished fifth in last week’s Senior Tour event at Woburn Golf Club.

“I didn’t play as well today as I did last week at Woburn, but I wasn’t far away from that and it is always nice to continue some good scoring form into the next week having played well last week.”

 FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Par 72 

67 R Drummond (Sco); T Price (Aus)

68 B Langer (Ger)

69 G Brand (Eng); M Harwood (Aus); Z Martinez (USA); M Belsham (Eng)

70 P Golding (Eng); G Banister (Aus); S Van Vuuren (RSA); M Cunning (USA); P Curry (Eng); K Spurgeon (Eng); B Longmuir (Sco); G Ralph (Eng); T Giedeon (Ger)

71 G Norquist (USA); S McAllister (Sco); T Johnstone (Zim); D Smyth (Irl); A Oldcorn (Sco); J Chillas (Sco); M Martin (Esp); J Bruner (USA); A Sherborne (Eng); C Mason (Eng); R Gibson (Can); M Farry (Fra)

72 J Hall (Eng); A Forsbrand (Swe); D Merriman (Aus); P Fowler (Aus); D Durnian (Eng); J Quiros (Esp); A Franco (Par); M Mouland (Wal)

73 R Sabarros (Fra); G Manson (Aut); N Ratcliffe (Aus); B Cameron (Eng); J Rhodes (Eng); J Harrison (Eng); T Elliott (Aus); S Cipa (Eng); B Lane (Eng); N Job (Eng)

74 E Darcy (Irl); A Fernandez (Chi); B Lincoln (RSA); P Mitchell (Eng); M Piñero (Esp); G Cali (Ita); B Ruangkit (Tha); C Williams (RSA); G Wolstenholme (Eng); T Thelen (USA)

75 J Gould (Eng); P Walton (Irl); P Smith (Sco); D O'Sullivan (Irl)

76 D Russell (Eng); G Ryall (Eng); L Carbonetti (Arg);

77 D Hospital (Esp); P Wesselingh (Eng); B Smit (RSA)

78 A Garrido (Esp); M Gray (Sco); G Brand Jnr (Sco); R Davis (Aus)

79 P Dahlberg (Swe)

83 T Burgoyne (Sco)