A SEVEN-UNDER 65 has given Damien McGrane a two-shot lead after the first round of the Trophee Hassan II today.
The Irishman, starting on the back nine, began with an eagle and finished with four birdies in five holes at Golf du Palais Royal in Agadir, Morocco.
Spaniard Alejandro Canizares is outright second at five-under, while there are a host of players a shot behind him. In a rollercoaster round, McGrane had eight birdies, three bogeys and the eagle on the par-five 10th, a result he was thrilled with.
“I played beautifully today and I’m delighted with it. I got off to a fast start and I managed to keep it going and finish it off nicely,” McGrane said.
“It is testing out there at the moment – the greens are beautiful out here. If you play well you get plenty of opportunities and it’s in pristine condition obviously.”
Englishman Graeme Storm was at seven-under with two holes to play, but he finished with a double bogey and a bogey to be at four-under. Joining him in a tie for fourth are Scot Richie Ramsay, Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen, Italian Edoardo Molinari, England’s Kenneth Ferrie, Welshman Phillip Price and Spaniard Jorge Campillo.
Italian Matteo Manassero’s chances of making the top 50 and qualifying for April’s US Masters with a win in Morocco are alive after he finished the day at three-under. Needing at least a top-two finish to earn a place at the Masters, Englishman Robert Rock had a dreadful round, carding a five-over 77 that featured an 11 on the par-four fourth.
