A flawless seven-under 65 enabled Raphael Jacquelin to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the BMW International Open on Thursday.
You have to go back to 2013 for the last of Jacquelin's four victories on the European Tour, but the Frenchman could be back in business this week after a promising start at Golf Club Gut Laerchenhof.
The 42-year-old kicked on from finishing in a tie for eighth at the Nordea Masters - his first top-10 finish for 11 months - by coming up with seven birdies in an assured opening round.
Jacquelin said: "I'm very pleased of course, as you can imagine. I played solid pretty much all day long. It was a bit tough at the end but I managed to save some good pars.
"The wind was picking up again, so it was not easy at all. I tried to stay focused on the game and the way I was hitting the ball and did pretty well and very happy for that and leading - it's been a long time. It's a good feeling."
Jacquelin holds a slender advantage over Oliver Fisher, who hit all but one green in regulation and was also bogey-free in Pulheim to start with a 66.
Fisher has endured a miserable year, missing 10 cuts in 16 starts and failing to secure a top-10 finish on The Race to Dubai, but the Englishman showed what he is capable of in Germany.
Felipe Aguilar, Zander Lombard and Thorbjorn Olesen are two shots off the pace in a share of third place, while defending champion Pablo Larrazabal is among eight players on four under.
Fisher's compatriot Danny Willett has work to do after the Masters champion began with a two-over round of 74, but it was a fruitful day for Richie Ramsey as the Scot won a BMW M760Li by conjuring up a hole in one at the 183-yard 16th.
Comments
SHARE