Todd Clements shot a sublime opening round five under par 67 to take sole lead in the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos.
The 26-year-old, who posted five birdies in six holes from the seventh, was so in the zone during his round that he was unaware he had finished with an unblemished card.
“I didn’t realise I didn’t have a bogey!” he said. “I just played really solid today. I kind of just felt like I was in reasonable control of my game, played quite sensible with the wet conditions out there. I had a sensible strategy and holed a few putts.”
After winning his first tournament at the Irish Challenge in July, Englishman Clements is in a strong position, currently 11th in the Road to Mallorca, and attributes his strong form to a positive perspective and mentality.
“I’m really enjoying my golf, I ‘ve really kind of took myself away from golf and how it affected my mood” he commented “I’m just out there doing my job. I kind of think and feel like nothing is granted, so just keep plugging away; if it is not today, it’s not today and tomorrow hopefully it comes.
“I am just being really grateful for what I do, in terms of my job, my life and I just feel really happy. So, I’m enjoying my golf and enjoying travelling. I’m reasonably placed in the rankings, so I’m not under the huge, huge stresses of a few others.”
Clements is clearly not resting on his laurels though and is aiming to improve his position even further as the Challenge Tour season enters the concluding stretch.
“Obviously, I want to keep pushing on and finish as high up as I can. I feel like if I keep playing my golf, not getting in my own way I have got a good chance of being at the top end of the Road to Mallorca.”
Christopher Mivis of Belgium and Anton Karlsson of Sweden are one shot back on four under par, with Nathan Kimsey of England, ranked fourth in the Road to Mallorca, the pick of a bunch of 11 players two behind on three under par.
