STEPHEN GALLACHER ONLY ONE SHOT OFF THE PACE
Stadler claims first round advantage |
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American Kevin Stadler leads after a bogey-free
round of 64, seven under par
German Marcel Siem is one shot back with a 65, one
better than Scotland's Stephen Gallacher
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French star Victor Dubuisson has to settle for 76,
while Victor Riu's 68 makes his top Frenchman
American Kevin Stadler
enjoyed his first trip to France as a flawless seven under par 64 gave him
the first round lead at the Alstom Open de France. Stadler carded seven
birdies and no bogeys to lead by one from Germany's Marcel Siem, with
Scotland's Stephen Gallacher a shot further back on five under. Frenchman
Victor Dubuisson, who shot a disappointing 76, is a long way back. The first
Frenchman is Victor Riu, who score a three-under par 68 to tie for sixth, and
Alexander Levy, tied for ninth place after an inaugural two-under 69.
"It's one of my best
rounds of the year for sure," said Stadler, who won his maiden US PGA
Tour title in the Phoenix Open in February and was half of the first
father-son pairing to play in the same Masters Tournament with his father
Craig in April. "To not make a bogey out there is something I didn't
think was possible when I first played it. It's instantly one of my favourite
courses ever, I thought it was spectacular from hole one to the end. They
talk about the last four holes but they are doing a discredit to the previous
14. I have always wanted to come over here, the guys in the US tell me it's
one of the best events of the year and it has not let me down. It has been
fantastic."
Ryder Cup hopeful
Gallacher was left to rue a poor finish despite carding an opening 66, the
Scot looking set to challenge the course record of 62 when he covered his
first 14 holes in seven under par and then hit a superb approach to five feet
on the sixth. However, the World Number 37 missed that birdie opportunity and
then dropped shots on the seventh and ninth after missing the green with his
approach each time. Gallacher is currently outside the automatic qualifying
places for September's contest at Gleneagles, which is just 35 miles from his
home in Linlithgow. "I missed a putt to go eight under and didn't do too
much wrong on the last couple of holes, but that's what this course can
do," Gallacher said. "I'll still take two (shots) better than my
previous best in this event."
Siem was in the group
ahead of Gallacher and experienced starkly contrasting fortunes on the
closing stretch, playing his final four holes in five shots fewer thanks to a
hat-trick of birdies from the sixth thanks to some excellent approach work.
"I always enjoy coming back here, I love the track and had a good start
this morning," Siem said.
"The putts finally started dropping, last
week my putting was horrible, so I am really pleased."
Siem's wife gave birth
to their second child last week and the 33 year old German admitted he was
feeling the effects of coping with his enlarged family. "I was really
tired," added the 2012 champion, who overcame a dreaded 'shank' on the
second hole and also bogeyed the 18th after finding water with his approach.
"I can't wait to go to bed. I said that to my caddie on the third hole,
I need to get my batteries loaded up."
Defending champion Graeme
McDowell was six shots off the lead after a round of 70, while playing partner
and US Open Champion Martin Kaymer recovered from dropping three shots in his
first two holes to card a 72.
On the French side, Victor Dubuisson only
managed a frustrating 76 after a horrendous triple bogey at the first.
The
Cannes-born star is a long way from his fellow countrymen Victor Riu, who
carded a fine 68, and Alexander Levy, who had a round of 69.
Scores Round
1: click here
Draw Round 2:
click here
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Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
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