Peter Baker and David Drysdale share the lead with a pair of 67s on day one of the Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy in Greece.
The pair have snuck their noses in front but it’s a packed leaderboard with a whopping 28 players within just four shots of the lead after a hot opening day on the stunning International Olympic Academy Golf Course at Costa Navarino.
Drysdale, who’s making just his third Legends Tour start having turned 50 in March, was the first to get into the clubhouse at -5. The Scot birdied all four of the par-fives and also circled a red number at the par-four 10th.
“I played solid,” said the former DP World Tour player. “I didn’t get in any trouble all day, and I played the par-fives well. I actually hit all four greens with my second shots, so I had eagle chances, but not from too close. So it could have been better, but I’ll take the four birdies.
“I was kind of just cruising along, not doing an awful lot, apart from the two par-fives on the front. I hit a good wedge at 10 that I thought was going to get my round going with the next hole being a par-five. To be honest, there were a couple of short par-fours that I didn’t get it that close to. The wind picked up a little bit and I didn’t have an awful lot of spin control in the breeze. A couple of wedges finished about 20 feet away when you’re looking to give yourself much better chances. But yeah, I’m happy with the start.”
Baker, the 2023 Order of Merit number one, made a fast start with birdies at the 1st and 5th before an excellent eagle at the par-five 6th got him to -4. He picked up one more shot at the 17th as he matched Drysdale’s bogey-free 67.
“I’m very pleased with that start,” said the former Ryder Cup player who’s won seven times on the Legends Tour. “I got off to a great start and played really well today. I sort of got stuck a bit in the middle there and it could have been a lot better, but everybody always says that. My best shot of the day was on the 6th. I hit a full rescue in there to about three feet for the eagle.
“I think it’s really important to come into the greens from the fairways. The rough isn’t super thick, but it’s difficult to control coming out of it. It’s definitely a case of hitting the fairways and going from there. You’ve got a chance if you can do that.”
The tournament switches to the Hills Course on day two, and Baker is hoping to carry his momentum onto a new layout for the players: “I think it’s a good course. I can’t say it’s much easier than the one we played today. Actually, it might even be a bit tougher. It’s our first time around there, so I’m looking forward to that.”
There’s a group of seven players in tied-3rd at -4, including Order of Merit number one Scott Hend, former Ryder Cup players Stephen Gallacher, Joakim Haeggman and Jarmo Sandelin, reigning Staysure PGA Seniors champion Rob Coles and a couple of Legends Tour rookies, Matt Cort and David Park. Hend finished 2nd here last year – four shots behind Clark Dennis – and he’s well-positioned to build on his lead at the top of the season-long points list after carding seven birdies and three bogeys.
Simon Griffiths and James Kingston, who’ve both already won this season, are alongside Maarten Lafeber and Philip Golding in tied-10th after starting the week with rounds of 69.
Defending champion Dennis had to settle for a 73, while debutant and two-time DP World Tour winner Anthony Wall signed for an encouraging 70 on his Legends Tour bow.
The play moves to the Hills Course for Friday’s second round before returning to the International Olympic Academy Golf Course for the third and final round on Saturday.
Leaderboard and round two tee-times here.
Round 1 Highlights
