Friday 9 September 2016 22:41, UK
Ben Evans holds a one-shot lead after the opening round of the KLM Open, as Chris Wood’s search for pre-Ryder Cup form got off to a slow start.
Wood, the only member of Darren Clarke's side in action at Spijk following defending champion Thomas Pieters' withdrawal, stuttered to a one-over 72 to fall seven strokes off the early pace.
The BMW Champion, without a top-10 finish since June, mixed three birdies with four blemishes during an up-and-down day where the morning starters produced the best of the scoring.
Evans birdied five of his opening six holes on his way to a six-under 65, with Bernd Wiesberger leading the group of eight players sitting one stroke back.
Beginning on the back nine, Evans opened with a birdie-two at the 10th and went on a run of four straight gains from the 12th to stay in touch with morning pacesetter David Horsey.
A dropped shot at the 17th was cancelled out by Evans as he picked up two shots after the turn, as Horsey lost his advantage and closed an opening-round 67 with a double-bogey at the last.
Evans, currently 154th on the Race to Dubai, finished his round in regulation to set the clubhouse target, with Byeong Hun An and England's Chris Hanson joining Wiesberger in the eight-way tie for second.
"I am in a similar position to what I was last year in terms of my card," Evans said. "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.
"The putting was the difference today - I holed a lot of mid-range putts which I haven't been doing a lot of lately."
Mikko Korhonen carded a second-nine 30 to add to the group on five under, while Scott Hend finished with back-to-back birdies to move within two of the lead.
Last week's European Masters champion Alex Noren joins home favourite Joost Luiten four strokes off the pace, as Thongchai Jaidee bogeyed the first and parred the next 17 holes to sit with Wood on one over.
Watch the KLM Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Friday from 10.30am and 2.30pm
