Lloyd Saltman leads Kärnten Golf Open on day one – Golf news
Lloyd Saltman enjoyed a perfect start to his campaign at the European Challenge Tour’s Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda as the Scotsman made light of difficult conditions to take a one shot lead, thanks to a stunning eight-under par opening round of
63.
In overcast conditions at Jacques Lemans Golf Club in St. Veit-Längsee in southern Austria, Saltman only managed to drop a single shot as seven birdies and an amazing eagle took him clear of Austrian Florian Praegant.
Saltman started on a high note with birdies on each of the first three holes that he played, after teeing off on the front nine of the course. He then recorded birdie-bogey-eagle over the last three holes on the front nine and reached the turn in five under.
Another three birdies on the back nine, allied with six par putts, handed him the outright lead.
“It was a pretty good start – I played nicely today and managed to stick to the game plan that I had put together in Wednesday so it was a very satisfying day,” said the Scot.
“I got off to a really fast start by birdying the first three holes and then it was pretty simple from there. It was one of those days where you very much enjoy being on a golf course and those haven’t been coming along too often recently. I made some nice
putts today and I have to say that the greens here are in magnificent shape,” he added.
Talking to the European Challenge Tour’s official website, he expected low scores to be posted on the leaderboard in the remaining three rounds.
According to him, he will have to maintain consistency in his game and record another good round on day two, to enter the weekend with a decent score on the leaderboard.
Mark F Haastrup, who carded a five-under par 66 to share the third position, was also pleased with his fast start in the event having endured a frustrating season so far.
His best start so far this season came at the Fred Olsen Challenge de España, when he finished tied for the 19th position.
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