Marcel Schneider carded a seven under par 63 to take the first round lead at the Austrian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand.
Related: Kristoffer Reitan claims dramatic Soudal Open win
Starting from the tenth, the German needed just 30 strokes on his front nine at Golf Club Gut Altentann as he carded five birdies to move to the top of the leaderboard. He then holed out for eagle from the fairway on the second hole to move to seven under par on the par 70 Jack Nicklaus-designed layout.
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The 35-year-old cancelled out a bogey on the sixth with a closing birdie on the par five ninth hole to return to seven under, two strokes ahead of compatriot Nicolai von Dellingshausen and Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, who carded five under par rounds of 65.
Four golfers share fourth on four under par, with Aaron Cockerill of Canada and New Zealander Dan Hillier carding their rounds of 66 in the morning. They were joined on that number in the afternoon by the former Ryder Cup pair of Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari.
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Last week’s Soudal Open champion Kristoffer Reitan is one of 13 golfers in a share of eighth on three under.
Player Quotes
Marcel Schneider: “I started quite well. I was in control on the greens, off the greens, long shots off the tee. Overall I’m actually super happy. Coming into the week I didn’t feel too great to be honest, but I managed well, hit good shots and I hope to ride that wave.
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“After the practice round I thought the back nine, that I played first, was tougher. But I just hit solid shots, gave myself a lot of opportunities. I wasn’t in trouble once, and that’s the key for shooting low.
“(On two) Off the tee I was a touch left, but it ended up in the fairway, but it was a perfect yardage for my 60 degree wedge. I thought I can’t go long, it has a nice dip from right to left, and luckily enough it finished in the hole.”
