Trophee Hassan II: Jordan Smith grabs lead after bogey-free start
Thursday 25 April 2019 20:00, UK
Jordan Smith posted a bogey-free 66 to grab a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco.
Smith struck seven birdies in calmer morning conditions at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam to get to seven under and end the day a shot clear of American Sean Crocker and 2014 champion Alejandro Canizares.
Stephen Gallacher sits two strokes off the pace on five under, alongside Matthieu Pavon, after firing an albatross late in his round, while defending champion Alexander Levy opened with a two-over 75.
"I scrambled well for the first few holes, stuck in there, then it all came together at the right time," Smith said. "I hit a lot of nice iron shots close and made a few nice putts."
Beginning on the back nine, Smith recorded three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the 14th and rolled in from 10 feet at the third to move into a share of the lead.
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He then holed a 20-footer at the fourth and added a five-foot birdie at the sixth, before firing his approach at the seventh to tap-in range on his way to setting the clubhouse target.
Canizares converted from three feet at the par-three ninth - his final hole - to close out a six-under 67, only for Crocker to join him in tied-second after mixing four birdies with an eagle.
Gallacher fired a hole-out albatross on the par-five eighth and made a close-range birdie at the par-three ninth to move into a share of fourth, with Edoardo Molinari a further shot back after a blemish-free 69.
Watch the Trophee Hassan II throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Friday from 11.30am on Sky Sports Golf and 11.55am on Sky Sports Main Event.
