Price is right for three-stroke lead in 

Mauritius Seniors

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Former Ryder Cup star Phillip Price picked up where he left off on the European Senior Tour, shooting an eight under par round of 64 to take a three-shot lead after the first round of the MCB Tour Championship today.

The Welshman, who famously beat Phil Mickelson 3 and 2 in the Sunday singles at The Belfry in 2002, carded five birdies on the front nine and made four further gains after the turn at Constance Belle Mare Plage, a European Tour Destination.

He quickly put a bogey on the sixth hole, his 15th after starting on the tenth tee, behind him, as he ended his round with consecutive birdies on the eighth and ninth holes.

Price made his debut on the over-50s circuit in October at the Senior Italian Open Presented by Villaverde Resort, where he finished runner-up to compatriot Stephen Dodd.

And the three-time European Tour winner was delighted to have found his best form in just his second Senior Tour start. 

“It’s the best score I’ve shot round here and I’ve been playing this course for a long time,” said Price. “I settled down quickly and started lovely.

“My game is in pretty good shape, obviously after shooting a score like this, but I need to look at the full 54 holes; I need to be thinking about what I would need to shoot to win.”

Play was delayed by three and a half hours due to heavy rain in Mauritius, but Price didn’t let that affect him as he moved ahead of two-time Senior Major winner Roger Chapman, fellow former Ryder Cup player Barry Lane and two-time MCB Tour Championship winner David Frost, who all shot five under par rounds of 67.

Frost, who played in the first group of the day alongside former Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie, started quickly as he birdied the first three holes.

The South African was victorious in 2010 and 2012 on the Legend Course and has finished no lower than fifth in this tournament in seven appearances.

“You have to have a strategy to play this golf course, whether you’re behind or ahead,” said Frost. “Every tee shot calls for a specific shot and you’ve got to take it; I enjoy the strategic part of it.

“You don’t win it on the first day, but you can lose it. You’ve got to stay in touch with the lead and then hope it goes your way with nine holes to play on Sunday.”

Lane, who represented Europe at The Ryder Cup in 1993, has been a runner-up in this event on two occasions and is determined to break his Mauritian duck this year.

“I’ve finished second twice and lost a six-hole play-off to Paul [Wesselingh] a few years ago,” said Lane. “It’s there for the taking but you still have to do it. Phil shot eight under and we’ll be chasing him for the weekend.”

“The scoring is good, Monty is doing well and Frosty and Chappers too; it’s going to be a good weekend.”

Chapman, who won both the US Senior Open and US Senior PGA Championship Presented by KitchenAid in 2012, added: “I played solid, had a good start and birdied three of the first five. I’m happy all round with today and hopefully I’ll keep the momentum going tomorrow.”

Montgomerie is joined by Paul Eales, Santiago Luna and Esteban Toledo on four under par, and five golfers share ninth place a shot further back.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERS
par 72
64 P Price (Wal).
67 R Chapman (Eng), B Lane (Eng), D Frost (SAf).
68 E Toledo (Mex), P Eagles (Eng), S Luna (Spa), C Montgomerie (Sco).
69 P Broadhurst (Eng), G Marks (Eng), S P Brown (Eng), M A Martin (Spa), C Williams (SAf).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
72 G Brand, jun (T28)
74 A Oldcorn (T36)

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