Sotogrande: Gavin Moynihan and Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon battled through wet and windy weather to lead after the first round of the Sotogrande Masters round three of the 19-stage Mena Golf Tour season on Monday.
Ireland’s Moynihan made three birdies and a bogey in his opening two-under 70 while Decottignies-Lafon of France kept it clean on the back nine as he picked up four shots after making the turn at two-over.
In their first season on the tour, the two early frontrunners lead by one shot over a four-man group, which includes England’s Lee Corfield, a three-time winner, and Spain’s Javier Gallegos, who topped the Mena Golf Tour Qualifying School in February.
Scotland’s Duncan Stewart and Mark Tullo of Chile were the other two players who moved into a tie for third on one-under 71 as tough conditions took their toll with many prominent players in the field struggling to break par.
Younus Al Hassani carded a level-par 72 to lead the Mena Division for professionals, while his fellow Moroccan Yassine Touhami seized the early initiative in the amateur division, returning a 76.
Among the notables, Wales’ Stephen Dodd, a three-time winner on the European Tour, and the Mena Golf Tour Order of Merit champion, Thriston Lawrence of South Africa, were tied for 30th on a 77, just one shot behind England’s Zane Scotland, a 10-time winner on the tour.
England’s Andrew Marshall, who currently leads the tour’s Order of Merit with a second and a first in the first two events on the tour, shot a one-over 73 to stay in contention for another strong finish.
