England’s Gary Emerson launched himself to the top of the leaderboard at the WINSTONgolf Senior Open with a superb seven under par 65 in the first round.
The 50 year old notched eight birdies and a bogey to sit one shot clear of a group of five players including home favourite Bernhard Langer, who birdied the last for a fine 66.
Switzerland’s André Bossert, Englishman Paul Eales, Cesar Monasterio of Argentina and American Jerry Smith are alongside Langer on that mark at WINSTONgolf in northern Germany.
Emerson has had just one top ten this season and is 54thin the Order of Merit, so his low score was particularly pleasing.
“I am very happy with my round and the result,” he said. “I hit the ball very well today and had only two bad shots – one of them resulting in a bogey on the second hole. The course is in great condition and the weather is perfect.
If you put the ball on the fairway, it’s very scorable. I’ve just got to keep my game together and continue to play as I did today.”
Langer, who won The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex in June for his fourth Senior Major victory, said: “I lost my concentration a little on the last few holes and made a bogey on 17 which is an easy par five.
“The course was in fantastic shape and the greens are getting faster every day, which is very good. It is fun playing here. Hopefully I can come out firing tomorrow morning and have another good round.”
Defending champion Gordon Brand Jnr of Scotland opened with a two under par 70 to lie in a share of 25thplace, while South African Chris Williams’ round of 67 was helped by a hole-in-one at the fourth – his first in a professional tournament.
“I’ve had ten hole-in-ones playing non-competitive rounds, but I’ve never had one in a tournament,” said Williams. “I was just unlucky it wasn’t on a hole where there was a special prize.”
