Lorenzo-Vera delighted after strong return at Euro Masters

Mike Lorenzo-Vera reflected on a satisfying return to action after making an impressive start to the Omega European Masters yesterday.

The 34-year-old Frenchman took a five-week break to get married and move house and put some of his success down to the mental side of his game after taking a share of the lead after the first round.

The event has attracted some of the sport’s big names, yet it is Lorenzo-Vera and Matthias Schwab, both of who are targeting a first European Tour victory, who set the pace with opening rounds of 63 at Crans Montana.

Schwab had set the target in the morning with a bogey-free effort before Lorenzo-Vera came home in 29 to join him at seven under par.

Lorenzo-Vera has already had two second-place finishes this season and has spoken of how his work with a psychologist has helped him get closer to that elusive first victory.

The 34-year-old birdied the second but double bogeyed the fourth before hitting back with birdies on the seventh, ninth and 10th.

A gain on the 13th was then followed by a long putt for eagle on the par 14th, a birdie on the second of the back-to-back par fives and another gain after a slippery putt on the 16th.

Earlier, Austria’s Schwab birdied the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth, and a chip helped set up a birdie on the par-five ninth as he turned in 30. Another gain on the 13th put him two clear and a two-putt birdie on the 15th moved him to seven under.

Lorenzo Gagli, Mikko Korhonen and Sebastian Soderberg were the closest challengers a shot back, one clear of a group including Tommy Fleetwood, Jamie Donaldson and Scot David Drysdale.

Sergio Garcia was in a group of 11 three shots off the lead on four under par, one clear of world No 2 Rory McIlroy, who had 15 for company.

Grant Forrest and Liam Johnston are one under par – one ahead of Scott Jamieson and Richie Ramsay, with Stephen Gallacher and David Law one shot further back. Robert Macintyre is two over.

Mike LorenzoVera leads the way at the Omega Masters.