Henry, three off pace, leads Scottish challenge at Muscat EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Denmark's Joachim B Hansen launched himself into contention for European Tour graduation by taking the first-round lead at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final with a six under par 66, but the Road to Oman Rankings leader Ricardo Gouveia is lurking ominously a shot back in Muscat. The European Challenge Tour’s season finale never fails to produce drama and raw emotion by the bucketload and this year’s battle to finish the season top of the Road to Oman Rankings took another intriguing twist. Portugal’s highest ranked player ever Gouveia has enjoyed an incredibly consistent season, which included a second career victory in Germany, and his determination to be crowned Challenge Tour Number One was once again evident with a bogey-free five under par round of 67. Björn Åkesson, who is fourth in the Rankings and still in with a shout of leap-frogging Gouveia in the season-long list, was a shot further back on four under par alongside Englishmen Ryan Evans and James Robinson, while Sebastien Gros - second in the Road to Oman - was one of five players on three under par. It was Hansen who ruled the roost in the searing Omani heat, however, and he admitted that the bizarre coincidence of the only three Danes in the field being put together in the same group - in a draw which was determined by Rankings positions – was a big help as he bounced back from an opening bogey to storm clear. “That was a perfect opening round,” said the 25 year old, who began the week just two places outside the European Tour promotion places in the Road to Oman, in 17th spot. “It puts me in a good position heading into the next three rounds so I’m really happy. “It is a pressurised time of the year but I just found something good in my swing recently, it’s working really well ball-striking wise and the putter keeps rolling too.  “It was fun playing with the guys. We started not great, I think all three of us were nervous definitely, but we all had good rounds in the end so that’s nice. “You just try and focus on your shots and then when you hit the shot you go and talk a bit, and joke around a bit. “I really want to get back to The European Tour. I will be making new goals every day and for every round so hopefully it will work.” Scott Henry is the leading Scot in joint sixth place with a 69, only three off the pace.  George Murray had a 70. At the other end of the leaderboard, Andrew McArthur had a 75 and  Jamie McLeary a 78 FIRST ROUND SCORES par 72 66 J Hansen  (Den) , 67 R Gouveia (Por) , 68 J Robinson (Eng) , B Åkesson (Swe) , R Evans  (Eng) , 69 S Henry  (Sco) , C Shinkwin (Eng) , T Murray (Eng) , J Dantorp (Swe) , S Gros (Fra) , 70 G Murray  (Sco) , D Huizing (Ned) , M Delpodio  (Ita) , M Orrin (Eng) , J Winther (Den) , S Jeppesen  (Swe) , C Hanson (Eng) , N Elvira  (Esp) , T Linard (Fra) , P Widegren  (Swe) , J Hahn (USA) , 71 D Im (USA), B Stone (RSA) , H Joannes  (Bel) , L Gagli  (Ita) , B Virto Astudillo (Esp) , 72 R McGowan  (Eng) , M Søgaard  (Den) , D Foos (Ger) , S Arnold  (Aus) , 73 A Björk (Swe) , P Whiteford (Sco) , R Davies (Wal) , J Fahrbring (Swe) , R McGee (Irl) , 74 S Soderberg (Swe) , R Coles (Eng) , J Senior (Eng) , R Fox (Nzl) , G Boyd  (Eng) , 75 A McArthur  (Sco) , 76 C Sordet  (Fra) , H Porteous (RSA) , S Walker (Eng) , 78 J McLeary  (Sco) ,

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS .