Bradley Dredge and Alvaro Quiros fired matching scores of 67 to share the lead after day one of the Trophée Hassan II at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
Highlighted by a six-hole stretch (Nos. 7-11) of four gains, Dredge finished with seven birdies against two bogeys to set the early mark at 5 under. It was the lowest round for the 44-year old Welshman since last summer’s Irish Open.
“A good day. Very pleased to be leading the tournament after round one. I played nicely all day so delighted,” said Dredge.
“It’s just a matter of keeping the ball in play and shot-to-shot, as in looking where the pin positions are and then taking into consideration whether or not you can go for the pin or play away from it.
“I haven’t played a great deal this year. I feel as though it’s progressing quite well at the moment so I’m quite pleased the way it’s trending, as a lot of guys say.”
Quiros finished birdie-birdie to sign for a card comprised of six birdies against one bogey, and a share of the marquee in Morocco.
“I have to recognize that it was a great round of golf,” said the 35-year old Spaniard.
“The score is good but I will say that the level that I displayed today from tee to green, it’s been unbelievable. I know that five under is a very good score but it looks like it’s a little bit short for the game that I have displayed today.
“Tomorrow is going to be a completely new day, and it’s only the second round of a four-round tournament.”
One back was a foursome of England’s Oliver Fisher, Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli, Swede Joakim Lagergren and South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen, who sit T3 at 4-under 68.
Canadian Austin Connelly, Swiss Benjamin Rusch, England’s Lee Slattery, former Hassan winner (2012) Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland, and China’s Ashun Wu were at 3 under, a shot clear of a logjam of 12 players.
TOP 10 LEADERS
1 Bradley Dredge -5
1 Alvaro Quiros -5
3 Erik van Rooyen -4
3 Lorenzo Gagli -4
3 Oliver Fisher -4
3 Joakim Lagergren -4
7 Lee Slattery -3
7 Benjamin Rusch -3
7 Michael Hoey -3
7 Austin Connelly -3
7 A-Shun Wu -3
VIDEO: SHOT OF THE DAY
Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium with a hole-out birdie on the par-4 13th.
QUOTABLE
“A good day. Very pleased to be leading the tournament after round one. I played nicely all day so delighted.
– Bradley Dredge
Credit: European Tour Media, Getty Images (Top Photo: Bradley Dredge; Second Photo: Alvaro Quiros)
