Golf

Ben Evans takes lead as Thomas Pieters withdraws from KLM Open

Belgian suffered an allergic reaction to a bee sting

Ben Evans of England hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during the first round on day one of the KLM Open at The Dutch in Spijk, Netherlands. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Thu Sep 8 2016 - 19:36

England’s Ben Evans carded a six-under 65 to hold a one-shot lead after the first round of the KLM Open at The Dutch in Spijk.

The event went ahead without defending champion Thomas Pieters, who was forced to withdraw after he suffered an allergic reaction to a bee sting.

The Belgian, who was named as Darren Clarke’s final Ryder Cup wild card pick last month, was stung during a challenge match on Monday.

Defending champion Thomas Pieters has been forced to withdraw from the KLM Open in Holland after he suffered an allergic reaction to a bee sting. Pieters was last week selected as a wildcard pick for this month’s Ryderup. Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Evans is one-shot clear an eight-strong group that included Dutch amateur Rowin Caron, who was four under or his first seven holes.

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Evans carded seven birdies, four of them in succession from the 12th, with his only bogey coming at the 17th.

The 29-year-old experienced a dramatic end to the 2015 season when he shot a closing 65 at the final event in Hong Kong which looked to have saved his card, only to finish 111th on the Race to Dubai with only the top 110 retaining their playing privileges.

He was handed a late reprieve when Brooks Koepka failed to play the required number of events, but had been struggling for form this season and missing 10 cuts in his last 13 events left him down at 143rd in the standings

“I holed a lot of putts early on, I hit a lot of greens and holed a lot of mid-range putts which made the difference today,” Evans told the European Tour’s official website.

“I am in a similar position to what I was last year in terms of my card. I need to play well to keep it but I am confident that I can do that. It only takes one good week to turn everything around and I hope this is the week.”

Last week’s European Masters winner Alex Noren carded a 69, while Chris Wood continued his preparations for a maiden Ryder Cup appearance at the end of the month with a round of 72.

Michael Hoey leads the Irish challenge after carding a two-under 69 for a share of 32nd position, but both Paul Dunne and Peter Lawrie will need to go low to make the weekend after disappointing opeining rounds.

Dunne carded a three-over 74, while Lawrie was three shots further back after a 76. Both players carded a double-bogey six on the second hole.

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