Alvaro Velasco on top, as he shoots 64 in the first round of the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal
Alvaro Velasco shot an 8-under 64 in the first round of the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal, dominating the leaderboard by two strokes.
The 30-year-old Spanish professional golf player displayed an amazing performance and scored nine massive birdies at the Santo da Serra in Madeira, Portugal.
He teed off the round early in the morning and shot a birdie on the very first hole of the tournament. He shot another birdie on the third hole. The Spainard carded his first and only bogey of the first round on the fourth hole.
Then he added two more birdies and finished the front nine holes of the course by making 33 out of 36. He was performing tremendously and competed well.
Velasco amazed all the spectators and other players, by making five more birdies on the back nine holes. He avoided making a bogey in the round.
“I was consistent all day and I putted very well. I gave myself many good birdie chances and managed to hole a lot of them”. Velasco said. “If you hit in the right spots the course is quite easy, but if you’re in the wrong place it’s easy to get in trouble”.
He added: “My putter has been working well lately and I’m feeling confident. I’ve played this course once before, in 2008, and I was fifth, so i have good memories of it, although this year it is playing completely differently as it is so firm and different
shots are required”.
Tommy Fleetwood scored a 6-under 66 and finished two strokes behind the leader. He is sharing the second position with Ben Parker, Oliver Wilson, Joakim Lagergren, Magnus A Carlsson and Morten Orum Madsen.
Velasco made a good start at the Portuguese golf course and is very happy to see his name on the top of the leaderboard. Now, he can aim high for the event, staged by the European Tour.
He can score well in the upcoming three rounds and has ample chances to finish on the top. He needs to be consistent while scoring in the next round, so that he can record his first European Tour title.
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