Chris Gane leads the Madeira Islands Open
Chris Gane is leading the Madeira Island Open after posting a five under par 67 in the opening round at the Porto Santo Golf Club. The 36-year-old from Bromely is now one shot ahead of clubhouse leaders Lloyd Saltman and Francous Delamontagne. At the course
designed by late Seve Ballesteros, Gane played really well to secure his lead in the event.
The course surely would mean a lot to the players as Ballesteros was an inspirational to a lot of golfers and golf fans around the world. Fighting with brain cancer for three years, the Spanish golfing legend passed away on 7th May 2011.
Gane started off by making a birdie on the fifth hole and then picked up the pace by making another birdie on the seventh hole. A bogey on his first hole on the back nine slowed down the player just for a bit before he recovered with another amazing birdie
on the twelfth hole. Making consecutive birdies on the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth hole, the player finished off his opening round on a good note.
“Golf's a very bizarre game - I felt pretty low after the final round last week, and I had about seven hours to kill before my flight, so I spoke to Tom Whitehouse
and he agreed to have a look at me hitting a few balls,” said Gane.“He gave me a lesson for about 45 minutes, and it's changed everything. So I owe him a lot, and I might even treat him to a drink later - but only because our hotel's all-inclusive!”
Delamontagne and Saltman, both carded four under par 68s to be just a shot behind the leader. The French player had a rough day with four bogeys but made up his slips by a couple of eagles. Making four birdies, the player posted an eagle on the tenth hole
and then blazed on the golf course with yet another eagle on the fourteenth. The32 year old has really put up a great fight and didn’t let his bogeys affect his game.
Tags: