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EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Mark
Tullo carded a scorching four under par 68 to move into the first round
lead at the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al
Badia Golf Club on a day in which there were plenty of big moves in the
chase for the 15 European Tour cards on offer.
The
in-form Chilean fired six birdies and an eagle to move one shot clear
at the summit, continuing an astounding run of form that has yielded
five top tens in his last six events, including back-to-back ties for
third in the two events prior to the season finale in Dubai.
The
36 year old started the week in sixth place in the Rankings, but the
title of Challenge Tour Number One is still within reach if he were to
emerge victorious at the breath-taking Al Badia, although he would also
be reliant on other results.
Tullo
was delighted with his round, which established a new course record
after the course was subject to big changes since last year’s inaugural
edition, and is feeling more confident with his game than ever before.
“It
was a good day out there,” said the VACON Open winner. “I had a couple
of mistakes out on the greens but you make some and you miss some, so it
was a solid round. I hit it good off the tee and hit my irons pretty
close.
“It wasn’t the easiest of days, the wind was blowing a little bit and there were some tricky shots, but I played really solid.
“You
tend to relax when you’ve secured your card but I’m a very competitive
kind of guy and I try to do the best that I can every tournament,
wherever I am in the Rankings.
“Obviously
it does help that guys in my situation are more relaxed and we can go
at every pin. It does make a difference to being outside the cut line.
“Once
I reached that number which secured my European Tour card, I just
wanted to keep on going and I could have been up there challenging for
the title the last three weeks, so I’m right there. I’m just trying to
play the best golf I can.
“I
have had great momentum for the last two months and it’s just pedal to
the metal for me. It’s been a long stretch, but a positive one, so all
the sacrifices are worth it.
“A
win would be a great way to finish the season but if it happens it
happens, if it doesn’t, I’m very happy with what I’ve done this year.
But like I said, I’m very competitive and I will be trying my best this
week.”
Max
Orrin, who launched himself into this week’s 44-man field courtesy of a
maiden professional title at the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic
last week, was one of three players a shot off the pace at three under
par.
The
Englishman was thrilled to bring the momentum of his impressive victory
in Muscat into the season finale with an opening 69, and admitted it
was difficult to stay focussed on the job at hand after such a
breakthrough moment in his career.
“I’ve
obviously got no experience of getting a win and then playing the next
week but it’s been fun and difficult at the same time,” said the 20 year
old former Walker Cup player.
“It’s
nice that it was so widely recognised but it can be difficult to get
used to all the attention and the cameras. I started off today with a
birdie, which really calmed me down.
“I
took my chances after that and carried on from last week, holing a few
putts. It’s just a course that you need to be patient on. The front nine
is very difficult and I managed to keep on level par and then holed a
few putts coming in.
“It’s
still another week, and another tournament I’m trying to do well in,
or, if I have a chance, try and win. Another win would be great but
ultimately the most important thing is that even if I come 15th,
I get in the top 15 in the Rankings.
" I don’t know what will get me in
there, but I just have to keep playing, and hopefully it’s enough at the
end of the week.”
Dane Lasse Jensen, who was 19th
in the Rankings going into this week, has given his chances of
graduation to The European Tour a big boost as he carded a three under
69 to join Orrin and Welshman Oliver Farr, who is hoping to consolidate
his place inside the crucial top 15 this week, in a share of second
place.
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
68 M Tullo (Chi)
69 L Jensen (Den) , O Farr (Wal) , M Orrin (Eng)
70 W Harrold (Eng) , B Hebert (Fra) , E Espana (Fra)
71 J Fahrbring (Swe) , D Coupland (Eng) , A Marshall (Eng) , A Tadini (Ita) , J Barnes (Eng) , A Velasco (Esp) ,
72 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) , A Hortal (Esp) , B Evans (Eng) , B Ritthammer (Ger) , B An (Kor) , M Delpodio (Ita) ,
73 R Coles (Eng) , J Roos (RSA) , A McArthur (Sco) , A Johnston (Eng) ,
74 A Bernadet (Fra) , N Quintarelli (Ita) , M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) , S
Brown (Eng) , P Widegren (Swe) , H Joannes (Bel) , B Åkesson (Swe)
75 P Oriol (Esp)
76 M Lampert (Ger) , S Hutsby (Eng) , J Palmer (Eng) , D Gaunt (Eng) , S Henry (Sco) , J Edfors (Swe) , J Huldahl (Den) ,
77 C Shinkwin (Eng)
78 J Lagergren (Swe) , J Lando Casanova (Fra) , C Bouniol (Fra) ,
79 T Linard (Fra)
81 P Edberg (Swe)
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