Kellett and Henry leading Scots in Swiss Challenge

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Germany’s Marcel Schneider took the lead on Day One of the Swiss Challenge with a sublime round of eight-under-par 63.

The 28-year-old birdied half of the holes at Golf Sempachersee and was bogey-free until a missed fairway at the last led to his only dropped shot of the first round.

Despite the finish, Schneider was in good spirits as he assessed his game afterwards.

“I felt really good out there,” he said. “My putting was really good, and my iron game was really strong as well. I had three birdie chances from inside one metre, which helps a lot.”

The impressive score ties a second round 63 at the Open de España on the European Tour as his low round of the year.

The result also represents a trend that the German has seen coming since a string of missed cuts on the European Tour in the early stages of his 2018 campaign.

“I feel like I’m doing better and better,” he said. “Since the season started I had a bit of struggle but its been improving and I can see it in the results, which is really nice.”
Schneider sits two shots clear of fellow countryman Philipp Mejow as well as England’s Jack Senior and American Sihwan Kim, all of whom hold a share of second place following six under par 65s.

With the Swiss alps visible from the course, Golf Sempachersee has proven to be a popular venue among European Challenge Tour Members.

“It’s probably one of the best venues I’ve played as a professional golfer so far,” said Adam Chapman, following a solid opening round of five under par 66, which put him in a two-way tie for fifth. “The whole place is beautiful, the facilities are great, it's in great condition and it’s a good test of golf.”

The weather was co-operative for most of Day One, however play was suspended at 7:21 pm when thunderstorms rolled across the mountain range and over the course.

Almost all of the 156-player field were able to successfully complete their first round, and the remaining two groups will conclude their final holes on Friday morning at 8:00 am.

Tee times for Day Two will go ahead as scheduled.

                                                

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 71
63 M Schneider (Ger)
65 P Mejow (Ger), J Senior Eng), S Kim (USA)
66 S G Rodriquez (Spn), A Chapman (Eng)

SCOTS' SCORES
69 R Kellett, S Henry (T25)
70 D Stewart (T43)
71 D Law (T65)
73 J Doherty (T111)
74 P Shields (T120)
76 C Doak (T137)
78 G Forrest (T148)

+Still to finish: J McDonald +1 after 15 holes.

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