Andy Sullivan and Nicolas Colsaerts share Portugal Open lead
Saturday 17 October 2015 00:03, UK
Andy Sullivan birdied his penultimate hole to join Nicolas Colsaerts in a tie at the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the Portugal Masters.
Sullivan, already a two-time winner on the European Tour this season, carded eight birdies and a sole blemish to match Colsaerts' seven-under 64 in a fog-delayed first round at Oceanico Victoria Golf Club.
Having reached the turn in just 31, the Englishman picked up three gains in the space of five holes along the back nine before bouncing back from a dropped shot at the short 16th by holing a birdie putt at the par-five next.
"I got off to a little bit of a scrappy start but made a good swing on the seventh and grew in confidence," Sullivan said. "I hit a lot of nice shots in the middle of the round and putted quite well on the late afternoon greens."
Colsaerts, who narrowly missed out on recording the European Tour's first ever 59 in last year's event, birdied four of his first six holes before a three-foot eagle at the 17th saw him head in to his second nine in just 30.
Another chip-in eagle briefly gave the Belgian a two-shot advantage, only see it cut by an errant drive off the seventh tee.
"It's one of those courses where I feel comfortable," Colsaerts told Sky Sports 4. "My length is also a pretty big advantage.
"There are a couple of holes where I can take shortcuts and it does not really matter if I hit it on the fairway or in the rough, even though the rough is higher this year.
"I would rather come in with a pitching wedge from the rough than a six or seven iron from the fairway so it's one of those courses where hitting it a long way is definitely an advantage."
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Compatriot Thomas Pieters, who won the Czech Masters and KLM Open in back-to-back appearances last month, briefly moved in to a share of the lead with a gain at the eighth but slipped back when he dropped his only shot of the day on the ninth.
"My putting the last couple of weeks has been pretty off, so I'm happy that's back," Pieters said. "I feel comfortable and when my putting is going well, the confidence in the rest of my game is there.
"I would like to more consistent for sure, I had a couple of rough months in the summer, but my game is good and I feel like I can compete every week, which is very satisfying."
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Thomas Aiken also temporarily moved alongside Colsaerts and briefly had hope of challenging for a '59 round' when a birdie at the par-four third took him to seven under for the day, but the South African finished in a four-way tie for third one shot off the pace.
Pre-tournament favourite Martin Kaymer was three under par after five holes, but eventually had to settle for an opening 70, while Denmark's Anders Hansen carded a 68 in his last tournament before retiring.
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