Golf - Andalucian Open update:Initial offerings in the €1 million Andalucian Open were something of a slow burner for the Irish representation but there were no such problems for a couple of Englishmen and a trio of Swedes, who between them set the pace in Malaga.
England’s Robert Rock and Jamie Elson shared the early lead with Sweden's Johan Edfors, Oscar Floren and Rikard Karlberg after the quintet signed for five under 65s at the Parador de Malaga Golf Resort.
Rock has gone 197 European Tour events without a victory, although he did walk away from the 2009 Irish Open with the €500,000 winner’s cheque because then Irish amateur Shane Lowry famously beat the professionals at their own game on the Baltray links but wasn’t eligible for the cheque.
The 33-year-old turned only in level par, but then covered the shorter front nine in just 29 strokes with birdies at the second, third, fourth, seventh and eighth.
Elson, playing this week courtesy of his top-10 finish at the Sicilian Open on Monday, played the outward half first in 30 and picked up another shot at the long 12th. In trouble off the tee at the last, he pitched to 10 feet and made the par putt.
The 29-year-old was a Walker Cup team-mate of Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell a decade ago, but has yet to make a real impact as a professional and lost his tour card last season.
Elson has already had two top-five finishes this year, however, and said: “I made some ground-breaking changes to my swing over Christmas because my ‘fairways hit’ stats last year were abysmal.
“I’m delighted. The first time I had a card was 2004 and perhaps it came a bit early for me. I didn’t really know what I was doing.”
Edfors made a steady start with six straight pars before birdies came at the seventh and eighth. His only dropped shot of the day was at the short 11th, but it kick-started a strong finish as he birdied four of the last seven holes.
Little-known Karlberg and Floren both enjoyed seven birdies in all and just the two dropped shots.
Gareth Maybin and Paul McGinley were best of the Irish after returning two under 68s be well-placed just inside the top 25. Darren Clarke was a shot further back after a 69. Damien McGrane was level par, one better than Michael Hoey's 71.
The returning Shane Lowry still found the going tough and was way down the field on five over 75 and has much work to do if he is to get back into the mix tomorrow.
Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal, past and present Ryder Cup captains, both shot 70, while Monday’s Sicilian Open winner Raphael Jacquelin carded a 68.
Spanish duo Alvaro Quiros (71) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (72), the only two members of the world’s top 50 taking part with the latter also acting as tournament promoter, struggled in the afternoon wind.
