Stephen Dodd shares the first round lead with Jose Manuel Lara in Sicilian Open – Golf update
Stephen Dodd, the Cardiff born Welshman, has gained a lead in the opening round of the Sicilian Open with a dazzling 6-under for 65 along with the Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara. The 44-year-old Dodd was quite satisfied with his opening round performance and
hoped to continue his run all the way to victory. "I did a lot of good things out there today," he said, “I kept in play most of the time, hit some good iron shots and I putted well which is always a key for any good round."
Dodd managed to grab an early lead when he scored six birdies and a stunning eagle at par-five 16th but two consecutive bogeys later on, restricted him to gain an unchallenged lead in the first round. Lara, on the other hand, started off on a
bad note but quickly made up for the loss by pulling in nine birdies just in time to equal the score. Dodd and Lara have a long history of fighting for the top slot which goes back all the way to 2004 when Dodd defeated Lara with a two stroke lead in the Smurfit
Kappa European Open in 2006. Dodd was often underrated in the professional golfing circles until he unexpectedly won European Tours in 2005 and later in 2006. Earlier on he had also defeated Dutchman Thomas Bjorn in the Volvo China Open in 2004.
Lara suffered an early setback opening up with double bogeys but quickly bounced back. "It was a strange one, I basically got a flier from the rough and the ball just went so far - straight behind a tree and I couldn't do anything from there," he said. The
steady Spaniard is in relatively better form as he had won the Austria Open last year.
England’s Chris Wood and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin were in third place, one shot behind. Four players tied for the fourth spot at the end of the first round including Steve Webster, Chris Wood, along with Australians Daniel Gaunt and Matthew Zions.
Ryders Cup’s winning captain, Colin Montgomerie, tied for 17th with a score of 69.
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