Saturday 21 April 2018 00:25, UK
Bradley Dredge fired a five-under 67 to grab a share of the lead after the opening round of the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco.
The Welshman birdied three of his final five holes to set the clubhouse target at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, only for Alvaro Quiros to move alongside him at the top of a bunched leaderboard.
Oliver Fisher is one of four players sitting a shot off the pace after a blemish-free start to the week, with Lee Slattery and Michael Hoey in the group two strokes back.
Beginning on the back nine, Dredge birdied two of his first three holes and cancelled out a blemish at the 17th with successive gains after the turn.
"I played nicely all day so delighted," Dredge said. "I feel as though it's progressing quite well at the moment so I'm quite pleased the way it's trending."
Dredge dropped a shot at the fourth but birdied the par-five next, before back-to-back gains from the seventh saw him edge ahead of the large group on four under.
Quiros was part of the chasing pack after following a front-nine 33 with a gain at the 10th, with the Spaniard bouncing back from a three-putt bogey at the 14th to birdie his final two holes and grab a share of the advantage.
Fisher is joined on four under by Joakim Lagergren, Erik van Rooyen, Lorenzo Gagli and Benjamin Rusch, while top seed Thomas Pieters is seven off the pace following a two-over 74.
Defending champion Edoardo Molinari struggled to a three-over 75 as Paul Dunne, runner-up last week in Spain and last year in Morocco, posted an opening-round 73.
Watch the Trophee Hassan II throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf. Live coverage continues on Friday from 11.30am and 3.30pm.
