Barry Conser shot a career-best European Senior Tour round of 64 to take a two shot lead after the first round of the Swiss Seniors Open at Golf Club Bad Ragaz.
The American made the turn in 33 shots, and came back with four birdies - including consecutive gains on the 15thand 16thholes - which moved him ahead of four players tied for second place.
With tied 25thand tied 12thfinishes so far on the circuit in 2016, Conser is pleased to be making the adjustment to life on the Senior Tour after securing his card with a second-placed finish at Qualifying School in February.
“When I played here in Bad Ragaz two years ago, it may have been one of my worst competitive rounds,” said Conser. “It was my second event on the Tour and I got off to a poor start.
“I came here last year as second reserve. Unfortunately I didn’t play the tournament, but had more opportunities to practise, so I’m a little more familiar with the course.
“I was at the back of the pairings today and we were through 10 and I saw there were around half a dozen guys on four under. I thought someone was going to make a move and then get to six or seven under.
“It’s nice to have that cushion, but there’s a lot of golf to be played. The course played soft all day, and we were able to throw the ball right up to the pins.
“I feel as though I left a lot of shots out there. I took advantage of a lot of runs at birdie. I missed a few putts within 10 feet, but made some from around 30 feet, so it evened itself out.”
Irishman Denis O’Sullivan rolled back the years as the 68 year old shot two less than his age to take a share of second place.
O’Sullivan, who celebrated his landmark 300thEuropean Senior Tour appearance at the SSE Enterprise Wales Senior Open, carded a steady 35 on the front nine, but came back in just 31 shots for a four under par 66.
He made one birdie on his front nine before scoring five in seven holes after the turn, and sits tied for second with Pedro Linhart, Peter O’Malley and Juan Quiros.
“I played really nicely out there today,” said O’Sullivan. “I nervously putted on the first and finished with a bogey, but I recovered after that.
“I hit it really close today, starting with the eighth where I birdied and then again on 10 and 11. I nearly holed on 12 with my third shot too.
“It was unfortunate to finish my round with a bogey. We all read the wind wrong, we thought it was going from left to right but it was actually right to left.”
O’Sullivan shot his best round on the Senior Tour since the 2014 edition of the tournament, where he carded rounds of 70-65-66 to finish second behind winner Rick Gibson.
Australian O’Malley, who is taking part in his first full season on the Senior Tour after turning 50 last year, joins O’Sullivan in second place.
He carded two birdies before a bogey on the 13thhole, but recovered well to card three birdies in the last five holes.
“I played pretty good all day,” said the Australian. “It’s soft after the rain we had on Thursday night and that contributed to the scoring, I think. It meant you could get away with throwing the ball at the flag.”
Eight golfers sit a shot further back on three under par, including three-time Swiss Seniors Open winner Carl Mason, who was delighted with his first round 67.
The Englishman has 25 Senior Tour titles to his name, including the three he won in Switzerland in 2007, ’08 and ’10.
“This course has been kind to me in the past and it was nice to have a good round,” said Mason, who has recorded seven top ten finishes in 11 appearances at the Swiss Seniors Open. “It was nice to have a good round, my form hasn’t been great at the start of this year.
“I had one bad hole at the start of the round, which was the fourth, I had a ball which was unplayable, but then I went on a bit of a run on the back nine.
“There are a few subtle changes to the course from last year, and a few tees have been moved a little bit further back. I’ll get a bit more practice done and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Gordon Manson, winner of the Acorn Jersey Open last month, returned a bogey-free card, and joins Mason in the tie for sixth place, as does former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst and 2012 winner Tim Thelen.
Former Ryder Cup captain and Masters Champion Ian Woosnam opened with a round of 68, the same as home favourite Andre Bossert.
