European Challenge Tour hit by first-day rain

Borja battles Roman rain to share lead

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Borja Virto Astudillo was one of just two players to reach the clubhouse under par before heavy rain caused the suspension of the first round of the EMC Challenge Open at Rome’s Olgiata GC.
The Spaniard shot a one under par round of 70 to join Antti Ahokas at the top of the leaderboard, though Northern Ireland’s Reeve Whitson was two under par after nine holes before play was called off for the day.
Astudillo was among the morning starters, playing in constant showers but enjoying the better part of the day as heavy rain stopped play by mid-afternoon, with no resumption possible.
The 24 year old won this season’s D+D REAL Slovakia Challenge and currently sits in 15th place in the Road to Oman Rankings. He was pleased with the start he made in Italy.
“My putting was really good today,” he said. “I played well, apart from two bad drives that cost me a bogey and a double-bogey, and I only had one three putt all round.
“I’m happy with one under par but I’m really unhappy to have made a double-bogey on the last. I hit it out of bounds with a really big push off the tee, but I’m happy with my round overall.
“It seems like nobody has really been going under par. The course is really long, plus with the rain it’s just impossibly long at times. I’ve been lucky to hit it straight, hit a lot of greens and take one or two putts every time.
“The weather will be a big factor for the whole tournament now, and maybe some players will get a bit lucky with the draw. But we all just need to stay patient, try to avoid big mistakes.
“My goal is to seal my place in the top 15 of the Rankings and graduate to The European Tour for next year. When I won in Slovakia I decided to stay on the Challenge Tour and I’ve been doing well.
“A couple more good finishes should hopefully keep me in there, with four tournaments to go.”
Sweden’s Ahokas is seeking his first Challenge Tour victory for seven years, while his compatriot Alexander Bjӧrk and Scotland’s Scott Henry were the only other players to complete their rounds without being over par, both shooting level par rounds of 71.

Play will resume at 7.40am tomorrow with round two tee times now three hours later than originally scheduled.


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS