Adri Arnaus (68) starts seventh in the PGA de Catalunya

South Africans Oliver Becker Y Darren Chipardtnext to danish Jeff Winterthe three with 66 stroke cards (6 under par) are engaged in the leadership of Catalonia Championshipa DP World Tour Circuit tournament that started this Thursday in the field of PGA Catalunya sa Caldes de Malavella (Girona).

The Stadium Course (6,723 meters and par 72) of the PGA Catalunya course, always long and demanding, is now more due to the northeast wind with gusts of up to 28 km/h in the morning and rising in the afternoon to 38 km/h . And that became complicated with the groups starting after noon, although in the late afternoon the wind blew even though there were 35 players in the competition.

Antonio Garrido He gave the coup de honor in which he inaugurated the tournament to celebrate 50 years of the DP World Tour, the European circuit that began at the 197 Spanish Open with Garrido’s victory.

Bringing back memories 😍

Antonio Garrido won the first Tour event 50 years ago. Today, he returns to Girona to hit a ceremonial tee shot.#50YearsOnTour | #CatalunyaChampionship pic.twitter.com/LrJl0VxwQu

– DP WorldTour (@DPWorldTour) April 28, 2022

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Bekker was the best in a round of 66 shots (-6), with three birdies on the first nine holes (1, 5 and 7), damaged by a double bogey on the 10th hole (par 4 of 399 meters). From there he chained three consecutive birdies at 11, 12 and 13, added two more at 15 and 17 and was about to birdie at 18.

At the time, he equaled the field record held by Darren fichardt, achieved on May 15, 2014 in the second round of the Spanish Open.

Fichardt, who has five wins on the circuit, was the only player to have a ‘clean’ card, without an error, on 17 holes, with birdies on 2, 3, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16 and 17, but a mistake on the 18th, with a double bogey, caused him to lose the lead on his own, and tied with Bekker.

In the final match of the day, Danish Jeff Winther also delivered a 66 -stroke card, with 7 birdies and a bogey, that reached his two rivals.

Behind them, with a return of 67 strokes (-5), are three players: the German Sebastián Heisele, the Englishman James Morrison and the Chinese Haotong Li.

Barcelonan adri arnausthe best Spaniard of the day, seventh in the table, wanted to leave the bad taste of not making the cut last week and began his journey on the 10th hole with birdies on the 12th, 14th and th -15 holes and bogey on the 16th (par 3 of 186 meters).

In the second half of the course, he added birdies on holes 3 and 4, bogeyed on 6 and released it to the eagle on 7 (par 5 of 535 meters) by drilling three strokes, but he didn’t close the day well. . with a bogey on the 18th hole for a round of 68 strokes (-4).

“They’ve done an amazing job setting up the course, so you have to play really, really well. I did that, so I’m really happy. It’s a great place and surrounded by people who support me. I enjoy playing, so it’s fun says Arnous.

“As a kid, I came to see the Spanish Open here, and seeing the players on this course that day was a motivation, so being here today was a dream come true, and I wanted to enjoy the week. “added the Catalan golfer.

The presence of 51-year-old veteran Danish player, Thomas Bjorn, winner of 15 Circuit tournaments and captain of the European Ryder Cup team in 2018. Bjorn showed a round of 69 strokes (3 under par) with 6 birdies and 3 bogeys to be placed in the top 8.

For the other Spaniards, Jorge Campillo from Cáceres, Ángle Hidalgo from Malaga, Pep Anglés from Catalonia and Iván Cantero from Madrid were the best ranked in a round of 71 strokes (1 under par).

Pablo Larrazábal from Barcelona, ​​winner last week of the Han Championship in Salou (Tarragona), did not have a good day. He started from the 10th hole with an eagle on the 15th. But he was bogeyed on the 17th and in the second round he missed again on the 5th hole for a round of 72 strokes (par).

Adrián Otaegui, from San Sebastian, second last week in Reus, also didn’t have his day. He started his round with a birdie on the 7th hole, failed with a bogey on the 8th hole and his trial began the second round with a bogey on the 12th hole, a double bogey on the 13th and a bogey on the 14th. . Although he knows how to respond to achieve an eagle in 15th and has a total of 74 hits (+2) to put him in 97th place.

Catalonia Championship

First day (par 72)

66 Oliver Becker (RSA)
Darren Filerdt (RSA)
Jeff Winter (Din)
67 Sebastian Heisele (Ale)
James Morrison (Eng)
Haotong Li (Chn)
68 Adrian Arnaus (ESP)
…
69 Thomas Bjorn (Din/12th)
71 Angel Hidalgo (ESP/31st)
Ivan Cantero (ESP)
Pep Angles (ESP)
72 Pablo Larrazabal (ESP/51st)
Alejandro Canizares (ESP)
Sebastian Garcia (ESP)
Alejandro Del Rey (ESP)
73 Eduardo De la Riva (ESP/74th)
74 Adrian Otaegui (ESP/95th)
Alvaro Quiros (ESP)
75 Nacho Elvira (ESP/107th)
Santiago Tarrio (ESP)
Pedro Oriol (ESP)
76 Carlos Pigem (ESP/122nd)
77 Eduard Rousaud (ESP/133rd)