Sam Torrance runs up an 83 in Paris Legends Championship

Mouland makes his mark with seven-under 64

FROM EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR WEBSITE
Welshman Mark Mouland took a three-shot first-round lead at the inaugural Paris Legends Championship after carding a seven under par 64 on the L’Albatros Course at Le Golf National.
The two-time European Tour winner made the turn three under par and made four more gains on the back nine, including consecutive birdies on the 13th, 14th and 15th holes.
Mouland carded his best round of the 2016 season so far and the former European Senior Tour winner credited his putter for his advantage at the top of the leaderboard.
“It was all about putting today,” said Mouland. “I went about putting normally for the first time in about four or five weeks.
“I had 11 three-putts at Woburn during the Travis Perkins Masters last week. Today I went back to normal and putted fantastically; it’s the best I’ve putted for a couple of years.
“I had an 18-foot putt on the last for birdie. I hit a nice drive off the tee and then a nine iron to the green. The ball was just outside the left edge and I snuck it in. It’s always nice to shoot a 64, but to do it here is a bit special.”
The European Senior Tour is, this week, playing at Le Golf National, a European Tour Properties Destination, on the host course for The 2018 Ryder Cup, L’Albatros Course.
“It is in great condition,” added Mouland. “The greens are putting well and the rough is thick – you certainly don’t want to miss the fairways.
“We only had a light wind today, so the course was playing as easy as it can get. It’s a really challenging golf course, especially with the water that’s around the finishing holes.”
England’s Phil Golding, a former winner at Le Golf National after his Open de France triumph in 2003, echoed Mouland’s sentiment as he has a share of second place after a four under par round of 67 – the only bogey-free round of the day.
“The course is in really good condition,” said Golding. “I went round in a buggy on Wednesday night and putted around. The Pro-Am on Thursday was nice for us, we played a Texas Scramble with our amateur partners but used our own ball.
“I had a good three-ball today and shot a good score. I made it hard in places and missed more than a couple of greens, but I putted well today. My short game kept it together. 
“The greens are a bit quicker than when we played on Thursday, but the course is great.”
Sharing second place are Spain’s Pedro Linhart and Argentina’s Cesar Monasterio who, despite finishing his round with a bogey on the 18th hole, remained upbeat ahead of Saturday’s second round.
Andrew Sherborne sits in fifth place on his own and a shot further back is Gary Wolstenholme on two under par.
Two-time Major Champion John Daly carded a level par 71, as did Frenchman and Open de France ambassador Jean Van de Velde – both are making their regular European Senior Tour debuts.
LEADERBOARD
Par 71
players from England unless stated otherwise
64 M Mouland (Wales)
67 P Linhart (Spain), C Monasterio (Argentina), P Golding
68 A Sherborne, G Wolstenholme, P Wesselingh, A Oldcorn (Scotland), M P Atlevi (Sweden), B Lane, M Mackenzie, P Fowler (Australia), S Luna (Spain)

SELECTED SCORES
72 I Woosnam (Wales) (T22)
73 R Drummond (Scotland) (T29)
75 B Longmuir (Scotland) (T38)
79 G Brand jun (Scotland) (T49)
83 S Torrance (Scotland) (last of 54)