Manuel Quiros set the clubhouse lead on day one of the ALLIANZ Côtes d’Armor Open Bretagne, finishing with a birdie to card a seven under par 63.
In relatively tame conditions – the strong coastal wind which bared its teeth earlier this week was absent today – Quiros posted seven birdies and an eagle over Golf Blue Green Pléneuf Val-André to lead his fellow Spaniard Jorge Campillo by one shot.
“It was a good round, I played well,” said Quiros. “There’s no wind today. I hit very well with my driver and from the fairway and I had a lot of chances to make birdies. The greens are difficult but today I had some luck with the putter.”
Of his eagle at the spectacular par five 11th, which drops steeply from the tee to the fairway and is lined by the beach on the left, Quiros added: “I hit a good drive and a seven iron to four meters and then holed the putt. It was a perfect hole.
“I like the course. I’m very happy here and enjoying the place this week.”
Campillo was also among the early starters and, starting from the tenth, fired seven birdies – three of which came in the last four holes – in his 64.
“I think I only missed two greens and even then it was on the fringe,” said Campillo. “It felt like I couldn’t miss a shot today. I hit the driver okay but it was always in play and I made a few putts so I’m very happy with the way things went.
“The course is playing much easier than the practice round because it’s not windy. There are plenty of birdie chances out there and it’s very different because the practice rounds were very tough. It was so hard to shoot under par in that wind but today it’s a lot calmer and much easier. And it was nice to finish so well.
“I was pleased to make the cut at the Spanish Open last week and that gave me a lot of confidence. I putted very badly at the weekend unfortunately but overall I’m very happy that I’m starting to play very well. I’ll just take it hole by hole, shot by shot and try to shoot to lowest I can.”
Another Spaniard, Jesus-Maria Arruti, carded a four under par 66 and Frenchman Anthony Grenier was six under after 12 holes following a raft of birdies around the turn.
