Jordan L Smith continued his remarkable start to his rookie European Challenge Tour season as the young Englishman moved into the lead after the opening round of the D+D REAL Czech Challenge courtesy of an eight under par 64.
The 23 year old claimed his maiden title in just the second event of the campaign, courtesy of a two-shot triumph at the Red Sea Egyptian Challenge Presented by Hassan Allam Properties last month.
He was once again on imperious form at Golf and Spa Kunetická Hora, teeing off at the tenth before picking up an early shot at the 11th, which was later followed by a trio of successive birdies from the 15th – holing out from 30 feet to round off that purple patch.
Back to back birdies at the second and third, as well as at the sixth and seventh, were enough to move him one shot clear of Frenchman Adrien Saddier, Ben Eccles of Australia, Italy’s Andrea Pavan and Reinier Saxton of the Netherlands.
“I hit it really well today to be honest,” said the Bath player. “I missed a few makeable putts at the start but got it going then, got into a groove and swung it really nicely. I hit every shot I wanted to and holed some nice putts.
“It’s definitely a scoreable course but you have to be careful because the rough is up in some places and the greens are quite slopey, but I’m very happy with how I played. I really like the course – I played here last year and I really enjoy it, so I’m looking forward to the next few days.”
Having won the satellite EuroPro Tour rankings last year thanks to victory in the final event of the season, Smith came into this campaign with confidence sky high and now he has got his sights set on the top 15 of the Road to Oman, and perhaps even the rankings number one spot for a second consecutive year.
“Winning in the EuroPro Tour at the end of last year and winning the rankings gave me a massive confidence boost coming into 2016,” he said. “But I’ve been hitting it really well for six months or so now. It was just a case of getting the putter working and so far it’s been going well.
“I wasn’t expecting everything to happen so quickly at all but I am just concentrating on that top 15. I just have to take weeks off when I need to, get ready for the Rolex Trophy and the one in England (Bridgestone Challenge), and then make sure I’m ready for the last six at the end of the year.
“I guess the number one spot is something to keep me focussed and keep me going, trying to get every point that I can.”
Eccles, meanwhile, is making his debut on Europe’s top developmental tour and he made quite the early impression as a flawless 65 earned him an early lead – having teed off in the first group off the first tee – before being overtaken by Smith and joined in second place by three others.
“It was a good round,” said the 21 year old, who won the New South Wales Open Championship on the PGA of Australasia Tour as an amateur last year. “I got off to a quick start with a birdie at the second and then just kept it rolling. I hit it pretty well all day and just managed to take advantage of that.
“It’s a nice position to be in. I think I was the last invite into this event so to be where I’m at now is a pretty good feeling.
“It’s my first Challenge Tour event – I turned professional in November and I’ve played a few European Tour events through invitations and through my status in Australia. I’m just happy to be here.
“I’ve wanted to play in Europe since I was a kid and getting European Tour starts is unreal but I just haven’t managed to take advantage of them yet. I’m just playing through the tough weeks, and to be able to do something this week would be nice.”
Saddier’s seven under round featured a stunning finish as the 24 year picked up four shots in his last four holes, with an eagle at the 16th sandwiched between two birdies.
Former Challenge Tour Number One Pavan continued his resurgence as he followed up two consecutive top ten finishes with an opening round 65 before Saxton came in with the same score late in the day to make up the quartet.
