Latin Trio Lead the Way in Guatemala

The European Challenge Tour’s first event of the year got off to a low scoring start at the Abierto Movistar de Guatemala, with European Tour Member Felipe Aguilar of Chile joining Spain’s Juan Parron and Miguel Rodriguez of Argentina in a three way tie for the seven under par lead at the Hacienda Nueva Country Club in this joint-sanctioned tournament with the Tour de las Americas (TLA). Sweden’s Johan Axgren is the leading European in the field on five under. 

Axgren, who graduated the Challenge Tour in 2004, started his round on the tenth tee and played the back nine in one under before putting together an excellent front nine of five birdies and just a single dropped shot to come ‘home’ in four under and move to within two strokes of the first round leaders.

Axgren is joined on five under by South Americans Diego Perez of Uruguay, Hernan Rey of Argentina and Colombia’s Diego Vanegas. Another European Tour Qualifying School graduate - Miguel Carballo of Argentina – and his countryman Paulo Pinto are just one off the lead after carding a pair of 66s, but it was Aguilar, Parron and Rodriguez who set the early pace.

Aguilar, who became the first Chilean player in history to earn full playing privileges to The European Tour after taking the 18^th card at the 2005 Qualifying School, was six under through 14 holes of his first round and cruising along nicely before he drove his ball into the trees on the par five 15^th of the Hacienda Nueva Country Club which resulted in him taking a double bogey seven.

Unbowed, Aguilar responded to his set back brilliantly, birdieing his last three holes to move into a share of the lead.

He said: “I played a very solid round. I only missed one green and although I three-putted the 15th, I played the green very well. I hit many shots close to the pin.”

Playing only his second tournament as a Challenge Tour Member, Parron was able to come back from a shaky start of bogey at the first. He went on to collect nine birdies and only one bogey on the rest of his round.

“I was a bit tight at the start, but as the round continued I was able to relax and made plenty of birdies. I played the putter extremely well and my ball striking was good,” said the 24-year old.

After a run of indifferent form in the lead up to the Abierto Movistar de Guatemala, Rodriguez didn’t know what to expect from his golf. “Up until yesterday I was very upset. I didn’t hit it wonderfully today, but there were some good drives off the tee that restored my confidence,” said the 32-year old from Buenos Aires.

Scotland’s Andrew McArthur and Thomas Sundstrom of Finland are the next best Europeans in the field on four under, one stroke behind Axgren and three off the lead, while three time European Tour winner Sven Strüver carded and opening score of one under par 71.

Click here for complete first round scores