European Tour rookie Jack Doherty stormed into the clubhouse lead after a rain-delayed opening day of the inaugural NH Collection Open at La Reserva de Sotogrande Club de Golf, where the Scot carded a three under par 69 in difficult conditions.
The 31 year old, a hugely promising amateur as a youth who earned his first season on The Race to Dubai through last November’s Qualifying School, fell to a bogey early in his round but bounced back with three birdies to reach the turn in two under.
After exchanging two birdies and two bogeys late in his round, the Australian-born player edged ahead thanks to a birdie at the ninth, his last.
Play was suspended at 8:45pm local time due to lack of light after an earlier rain delay of two hours and 40 minutes and the first round will resume on Friday morning.
Jack Doherty, 69 (-3), leader
“It was a tough day. We had a 20 yard wind on the front nine and almost a 30 yard wind on the back nine, so it was strong wind. The ball is going a long way downwind and it’s hardly going anywhere into the wind, but I practice on the west coast of Scotland which is normally quite windy, so I know how to play it and I just stuck to my game plan.
“The course is lovely, it’s my first time here and I enjoyed it. I like the way it sets up and it’s in good condition. Considering we had lots of rain yesterday and last night, the course has held up nicely and the greens are fast, especially downwind.
“This is my first year on the main tour and my main target is to keep my card for next year, that would be the main goal, as I am limited in my starts. Every week is big, but a good week here would be huge.”
Adrian Otaegui, 71 (-1), tied 6th and leading Spaniard
“All in all, it was a very positive day. The course was playing really difficult and anything under par is very good. In the morning the course was extremely wet. When the rain stopped the wind started to blow really hard.
“In these conditions it’s best not to get obsessed with the wind because it only makes things worse. I will try to do my best hole after hole and forget about the wind.”
Notes
- 69 – Jack Doherty equalled his best round on The European Tour, which he also carded in first round of the Tshwane Open.
- Doherty would become the second Scottish winner on The European Tour in 2014, after Stephen Gallacher won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February.
- With round one yet to be concluded, the cut at the NH Collection Open currently lies at +2. The highest 36-hole cut in relation to par so far on The 2014 Race to Dubai is +1, at the Trophée Hassan II and the Hong Kong Open.
- Doherty would be the fifth first time European Tour winner of the 2014 season, after Morten Ørum Madsen (South African Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni), George Coetzee (Joburg Open), Jason Day (WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship) and Patrick Reed (WGC – Cadillac Championship).
