The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Englishman proves to be surprise package with flawless first-round 64
England’s Paul Waring left some of Europe’s biggest names trailing in his wake to claim the lead after the first round of the £5.4million HNA Open de France.
Waring, 32, who is competing this season on a medical exemption due to ongoing back problems which restricted him to four starts in 2016, carded seven birdies in a flawless opening 64 at Le Golf National, venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
That left the former English amateur champion two shots clear of Thomas Pieters, Alexander Bjork and qualifying school winner Nathan Kimsey, with Tommy Fleetwood part of a three-strong group on four under.
Waring, ranked 279th in the world after finishing second in the Joburg Open and third in the Hassan Trophy earlier this season, said: “I’m made up. I think I only hit five fairways around here, which is obscene, but had nine putts
“I am always trying to push myself forward, move up any sort of rankings”
on the back nine and gave myself some real chances and took them. I felt like my short game was tidy today and holed a few putts for par to keep momentum.
“I am always trying to push myself forward, move up any sort of rankings, be that Race to Dubai or world rankings. We’ve got a good strong field here this year so there’s plenty of world ranking points available.”
Pieters, who won a record four points from five matches on his Ryder Cup debut at Hazeltine, carded six birdies and a solitary bogey in his 66 after benefiting from a putting lesson from the coach of fellow Belgian Thomas Detry.
Kimsey, who won the The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Par-3 championship will take place at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, Ardoe, on August 28 and 29.
The championship will comprise a field of 54 professionals playing in a pro-am format that will see a professional and an amateur paired up to play 36 holes over the nine-hole course. Lawrie, the 1999 Open champion, said: “We held the event a couple of years ago and decided to give it a year’s break. We didn’t do it last year as the oil and gas industry was going through hard times.
“A few months ago we thought it would be great to get it going again as the centre has recovered well after the floods.
“It is looking magnificent, better than ever, so I think it is the perfect time to showcase what the centre is all about.
“I’m delighted that Aberdeen Asset Management has agreed to become title sponsor of this year’s championship.
“They’ve been incredible supporters of golf – both professional and amateur – at home and abroad over a long period of time.
“This is just further evidence of their ongoing commitment to golf at all levels of the game.”
Aberdeen Asset Management CEO Martin Gilbert said: “Paul has been a dedicated ambassador of ours for nearly 20 years now, so we’re delighted to be able to support him with this fantastic and entertaining event.
“The short-form format of the game is becoming ever more popular, so we expect the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Par-3 championship to be a huge hit with the players and golf enthusiasts in the north-east of Scotland.”