Dubai-based Adri Arnaus in tied fourth after round one of Porsche European Open
Spaniard shoots 69 while Pole Adrian Meronk’s US Open hopes sink on 17th hole in Hamburg
Dubai: Dubai-based Adri Arnaus of Spain shot a first round three under par 69 to lie in tied fourth place in the €1.75 million Porsche European Open at Green Eagle Golf Courses, Hamburg, Germany on the DP World Tour.
Arnaus, currently in 10th place on the DP World Tour Rankings, starting on hole 10, had a mixed bag of a round with an opening double bogey, another double on hole 6, two bogeys and an impressive seven birdies as well as an eagle on hole 18, his ninth of the day, in a card that contained only five pars.
Leading the field are Haotong Li of China, winner of the 2018 Dubai Desert Classic, alongside Swede Joakim Lagergren with rounds of 67.
Li is showing a return to form over the last few weeks after a disappointing 2021 season, and many predict a win is, perhaps, just around the corner for the 26 year old, who has two career wins on the DP World Tour and currently lies 50th in the DP World Tour Rankings.
Hardest hole on the course
Pole Adrian Meronk, another Dubai-resident, starting on hole 10, had an eagle three on hole 15 to be level par for his round, but then a disastrous 9 on the par three 17th saw this week’s chances disappear along with perhaps his hopes of qualifying for the US Open in the mini-Order of Merit Series, where he lies seventh in this week’s final qualifying event.
The 17th hole, measuring 170 yards, proved to be the hardest hole on the course in the first round with an average score of 3.68, a remarkable 27 players scoring double bogey or worse.
Only 27 players in the 156-strong field broke par in round one on a tough day for scoring with preferred lies in place on fairways.
Leading first round scores (Par 72, 7,475 Yards):
H. Li (China) 67.
J. Lagergren (Swe) 67.
W, Besseling (Ned) 68.
A. Pavan (IT) 69.
V. Perez (Fr) 69.
A. Arnaus (Sp) 69.
J. Guerrier (Fr) 69.
B. Hebert (Fr) 69.
D. Huizing (Ned) 69.
J. Brun (Fr) 69.
Other Notables:
T27th Oleson (Den) 72.
T27th A. Otaegui (Sp) 72.
T40th D. Horsey (Eng) 73.
T54th R. MacIntyre (Scot) 74.
T54th M. Wallace (Eng) 74.
T72nd Fleetwood (Eng) 75.
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