IRELAND’S DAMIEN MCGRANE has the clubhouse leads at the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea this afternoon.
The Meathman hit a six-under-par round of 66 on the opening day at Blackstone, earning himself a one-shot lead.
McGrane has just one previous European Tour title to his name – the 2008 Volvo China Open. But he carded eight birdies and two bogeys to lead by one shot from England’s Richard Finch and South Korean Park Sang-hyun.
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World No 1 Lee Westwood double-bogeyed the final hole of his first round to end day one six shots behind the Irishman.
“I made plenty of birdies and I putted nicely,” McGrane said.
“I holed everything inside 15 feet. I made two bogeys which were out of nowhere really but that’s golf I suppose. The fairways are generous and, just like last week, you make birdies on day one and keep going till the end of the tournament.
“That’s what I started off doing, so hopefully I’ll do it at end of the tournament.”
Finch enjoyed five birdies in a bogey-free round and was pleased with his progress.
He told the European Tour website: “Today I feel like I got up out of the right side of the bed and a few things went my way.
“When I hit putts too hard, and I’m thinking, please hit the hole, it hit the hole and disappeared. That’s a two-shot swing basically.
“You do need that little bit of luck and for things to go your way. Hopefully I still have a bit left in the tank but certainly took advantage today.”
Ireland's Damien McGrane sets the pace in South Korea
IRELAND’S DAMIEN MCGRANE has the clubhouse leads at the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea this afternoon.
The Meathman hit a six-under-par round of 66 on the opening day at Blackstone, earning himself a one-shot lead.
McGrane has just one previous European Tour title to his name – the 2008 Volvo China Open. But he carded eight birdies and two bogeys to lead by one shot from England’s Richard Finch and South Korean Park Sang-hyun.
World No 1 Lee Westwood double-bogeyed the final hole of his first round to end day one six shots behind the Irishman.
“I made plenty of birdies and I putted nicely,” McGrane said.
“That’s what I started off doing, so hopefully I’ll do it at end of the tournament.”
Finch enjoyed five birdies in a bogey-free round and was pleased with his progress.
He told the European Tour website: “Today I feel like I got up out of the right side of the bed and a few things went my way.
“When I hit putts too hard, and I’m thinking, please hit the hole, it hit the hole and disappeared. That’s a two-shot swing basically.
“You do need that little bit of luck and for things to go your way. Hopefully I still have a bit left in the tank but certainly took advantage today.”
- additional reporting AP
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Damien McGrane Early bird European Tour Richard Finch Volvo China Open