Scott Jamieson and Daniel Gaunt set the pace at Russian Open
Saturday 5 September 2015 23:03, UK
Daniel Gaunt birdied the final hole to move in to a share of the lead with Scott Jamieson after the opening round of the Russian Open.
Jamieson set the early pace by posting a six-under 65 as one of the morning starters, only for the Australian to move alongside him by sliding in a gain at the last.
Beginning at the 10th, Jamieson birdied two of his first four holes to reach the turn in 34, before starting the front nine with four consecutive gains on his way to a bogey-free round at Skolkovo Golf Club.
Gaunt followed a birdie-two at the 11th with a chip-in eagle at the next to temporarily move in to a share of the lead, before getting back to six under by recovering from a double-bogey at the 15th to pick up two shots over the closing three holes.
"It's flawless, probably the best conditions we've seen all year," Jamieson said. "There's hardly a blade of grass out of place anywhere across the whole estate so it's a pleasure to come and play.
"The birdie putt at nine was looking good but it was a relief to see it settle just a foot from the hole. It's a tough hole today, playing into the wind with a back pin so three is a good score there."
Live European Tour Golf
Successive gains to finish from Bradley Dredge leaves the Welshman one off the pace with Lee Slattery, with defending champion David Horsey part of the group a further stroke adrift after a solid start in Moscow.
"Over the last couple of weeks I've slightly improved as I've gone along," Slattery told the European Tour. "I wouldn't say I played my best today, but I hit the ball pretty straight, took my chances well and 66 was a fair score."
Pablo Martin Benavides briefly held a share of the lead following a sixth birdie at the day at the 12th, but a double-bogey six at the 15th and a blemish at the penultimate hole saw the Spaniard close a three-under 68.
Two late bogeys leaves Maximillian Kieffer, without a missed cut on the European Tour this season, three strokes back, as last year's runner-up Damien McGrane opened with a one-under 70.
Former tennis world No 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov got off to a solid start and was one under through four holes, but couldn't add any further birdies on his way to a six-over 77.
Watch the Russian Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf
