English pair Danny Willett and Seve Benson and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond shared the lead midway through the opening round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.
A fog delay held up play for over an hour in the morning, but once it cleared the most picturesque course on The European Tour was left basking in sunshine.
Willett, who finished tied for sixth at The Open Championship on Monday, made five birdies, an eagle from 20 feet on the 14th and two bogeys in the Swiss Alps for a five under par round of 65.
That was matched by compatriot Benson, who after bogeys at the second and fourth reeled off seven unanswered birdies – including five gains in six holes from the 12th – and Janewattananond.
Benson is named after Spanish great Seve Ballesteros, who won this event three times, but the 28 year old is yet to win on The European Tour.
The pair were one shot ahead of defending champion David Lipsky, Welshman Bradley dredge, Swedes Magnus A Carlsson and Johan Carlsson, England’s Richard Bland, Belgian Thomas Pieters and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond.
Willett, who sits third in The Race to Dubai having won the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the start of the season, said: “I was a bit tired when I arrived because it was a long week at St Andrews, but I’m feeling good now.
“I hit it nicely last week and that was the case again today; I had a few adjustments to make because of the altitude here and the round flowed nicely once we got going.
“It’s a good fun golf course, and a good fun week. I’ve got my family here with me, so it’s been a nice week off the course and, so far, a nice week on it as well. Long may it continue.”
