James Nicholas posted a sensational eight under par round of 64 to secure a two-shot lead after day one of the Challenge de Cádiz at Iberostar Real Golf Novo Sancti Petri.
The American, starting from the tenth hole, birdied four of his first five holes to race into the early lead, before three consecutive pars and a bogey at the 18th meant he made the turn at three under.
Five more gains on his back nine, including back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth, put him two clear of Frenchman Clément Berardo in second place on six under par.
Nicholas has played predominantly on the DP World Tour this season after earning his card through Qualifying School, and he arrived in Cádiz in a buoyant mood following a tied 25th place finish at the European Open in Hamburg last week.
“It was a solid day from start to finish,” he said. “I got off to a good start and I told myself to be aggressive this week and just go for it. I went for pretty much every pin today and if I hit a great shot it ended up in a birdie and if I didn’t, I would just figure something out around the greens.
“I was in Germany last week and had a good finish on the DP World Tour which has gave me a lot of confidence ahead of the Challenge Tour event this week. I’m just pleased to be playing out here and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
The Yale University graduate likened the conditions in Andalucía to his native Florida and was pleased to use his experience of playing in the wind to his advantage as he targets a maiden Challenge Tour victory this week.
“I’m used to playing in the wind because I live in Florida and it is hot and windy, very similar to Cádiz,” he said. “I tried to flight the ball down and my short game saved me around the greens.
“I’m going to keep the same mindset tomorrow and attack from the off. It obviously worked today but golf is a tough game, and mistakes will happen at some point. It’s important to bounce back as quickly as possible and not let yourself spiral out of control on the golf course.”
Spaniard Angel Ayora shares third place with Irishman Gary Hurley on five under par, while ten players are a shot further back in fifth including Italian Aron Zemmer, Benjamin Follett-Smith from Zimbabwe and Swede Niklas Lemke.
The second round of the Challenge de Cádiz will get under way at 8:00am local time, with Nicholas teeing it up alongside South African Albert Venter and Kim Koivu of Finland at 1:20pm.
