A magnificent eight under par 64 thrust Spaniard Adrian Otaegui to the top of the leaderboard during a low scoring first day at the D+D Real Czech Challenge Open.
The 20 year old San Sebastian native fired nine birdies and just a solitary bogey to stay one clear of compatriot Carlos Aguilar, who also sparkled during a morning session in which the assembled field put Kuneticka Hora to the sword in benign conditions.
One shot further back as the day progressed were Englishman Chris Gane and Italy’s Nicolo Ravano, who both shot six under par rounds of 66.
Following weeks of torrential rain in Pardubice – just shy of 100 kilometres east of Czech capital Prague – there was welcome sunshine, blue skies and warm temperatures as the morning starters took advantage of the more hospitable conditions on Thursday when the second Czech Challenge got underway.
None more so than Otaegui, whose 64 was one shot outside Maximilian Kieffer’s course record – set in the inaugural edition of the tournament last year.
Starting on the back nine, Otaegui found birdies at the long 11th and par four 14th while a hat-trick before the turn – including a 35 foot birdie putt at the short 17th – saw the former amateur star reach five under par.
Another gain followed at the long second before his only dropped shot of the day came at the third when Otaegui failed to get up and down from the dense rough to the right of the green.
Unfazed, he bounced back with another trio of birdies – at the fifth, where he holed a birdie putt from all of 50 feet, long seventh and short eighth holes – to complete a stunning round and see Otaegui capture the clubhouse lead as the day progressed.
“I played well from tee to green and made quite a few long putts which is always pleasing,” said Otaegui, who was mentored growing up by triumphant 2012 Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal.
“But my game was good in general and I’m obviously very happy with making such a great start.”
His fellow countryman Aguilar also looked in fine fettle on Thursday morning, firing five birdies in a flawless front nine 31.
The Murcia man found another birdie at the long 11th but, as he admitted himself, struggled somewhat during the rest of the round, making bogey at the long 12th after having to chip out following an errant tee shot.
He did, though, find a seventh birdie of the day at the long 16th, got up and down well to save par at the short 17th before closing out in style with what he credited as the finest gain of the day at the par four last.
“I’m most pleased with how I finished,” said Aguilar. “I was right between a five and a six iron for my approach. Because it was playing into the wind I chose five and managed to hit it to just three metres and hole that. I’m pleased with the start but it is early days so I’ll stay positive and let’s see what happens.”
With the weather still set fair for the later starters, the low scoring looked set to continue as the first round continued in the Czech Republic, as over 60 players had already found their way under par as the day progressed.
