Englishman Ben Evans produced a towering first round of seven under par 63 to surge into a one stroke lead on the opening day of the Open Blue Green Cotes d`Armor Bretagne.
Having struggled with his came over the past few weeks, Evans arrived at the stunning Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André on the coast of Brittany with low expectations.
But a change in his alignment over the ball did more than the trick as the 27 year old compiled eight birdies and just a single bogey to move into the lead.
It’s not every day you shoot 63 when you are struggling for form, but Evans was as honest after his round as he was good during it.
“I didn’t actually feel that comfortable out there today,” admitted the Englishman. “My results haven’t been great recently and when I was working on a few things over the weekend I noticed something was wrong with my set-up over the ball so I made a few changes so I feel really awkward over the ball but it is producing much better shots so I need to stick with it.
“It’s one of those situations where you have to get used to it and start to trust it more which is something you have to go through when you are making a few changes.
“I have to admit I got a little lucky to find my ball on the tenth, which was my first hole of the day, after a poor drive but after that it was pretty solid. I hit it pretty close for most of the day and managed to roll in a few of the putts to make a good start for a little change.”
Evans has been a regular visitor to the Open Blue Green Cotes d`Armor Bretagne, having played the first five editions of the tournament between 2008 and 2012. His best previous performance around the outstanding course was a 68 during the only occasion he made the halfway cut in 2011 when he finished in a tie for 25thplace.
Ever modest, Evans is the first to admit his 63 came as something of a surprise but he also acknowledged that the Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André has never been more inviting of low scoring in his experience of the venue.
“There were definitely scoring opportunities out there today and I have to say that today was the best weather and conditions I have ever seen here. I remember the first year we played here in 2008. It was in April and it was freezing and very tough to make a score. Level par was a great score that week so it’s great to be here in the summer and have such good conditions.
“This is hopefully the start of a good run for me because I need to get up the Rankings,” continued Evans, who at 104thin the Challenge Tour Rankings needs a big result to keep his season alive and kicking.
Jack Doherty would have joined Evans in a share of the lead had it not been for a bogey on his 18thhole of the day, leaving the Scotsman to settle for a share of second place on six under alongside England’s Dave Coupland, Belgian Hugues Joannes and Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia.
South Africa’s Brandon Stone, at five under, enjoyed one of the more eventful rounds of his young career with a card containing nine birdies, five pars and four bogeys en route to a 65 to join Italy’s Filippo Bergamaschi in sixth place, two off the Evans pace.
