Lauri Ruuska equalled the course record as a bogey-free eight under par round of 64 gave him a two-stroke lead at the end of the opening day of the Dormy Open.
The Finn took advantage of benign conditions to card six birdies and an eagle on a low scoring day at Österåkers Golfklubb, with Spaniard David Borda, Swede Per Längfors and Denmark’s Jeppe Kristian Andersen two strokes back on six under par.
The 28-year-old decided to adopt a smart approach this week and was pleased to reap the rewards by keeping bogeys off the scorecard.
“I played really well today,” he said. “I had a clear game plan and I just tried to follow that. I decided to take my opportunities to attack the pin when I hit fairways, and if I missed a fairway I would just play for the heart of the green. I was delighted not to make any bogeys today.”
Ruuska believes approach play is crucial this week and is feeling right at home having finished fourth on the Nordic Golf League Order of Merit in 2020, which is predominantly played in Sweden and Denmark.
“I eagled the 18th hole after hitting a great four-wood off the tee,” he said. “I pushed my approach to the right of the pin and luckily it ended up pretty good. The approach shots are crucial on this course.
“It almost feels like home playing here in Sweden because I’ve played a lot in the Nordic Golf League and it’s as close as you can get to playing in Finland.”
Eight players share fifth place on five under par, including Germany’s Max Schmitt, Swede Robin Petersson, Irishman Paul McBride and Belgian Christopher Mivis.
Ruuska will get his second round under way at 7:30am local time alongside countryman Kim Koivu and Swede Hannes Ronneblad.
