The 2004 BMW PGA champion rattled off eight birdies – four on each nine – to seize the outright lead on a day of low scoring at Brocket Hall’s magnificent Palmerston course. Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman is just one back after a superb 67, while English duo Peter Baker and Steve Webster – along with South Africa’s Keith Horne – sit at -5.
Scott Drummond – English Legends
Scotland’s Scott Drummond leads after round one of the Grass & Co. English Legends hosted by Roger Chapman
“I’ve had a great day,” said Drummond, who is now in his second season and still searching for a maiden win on the Legends Tour. “It’s really nice to get off to a decent start for once. I’ve been out here for just over a year and haven’t managed it so far, so it was very satisfying to get a decent round in today because I’ve been playing quite nicely but not really been scoring that well.
“Today was all just really solid. I didn’t try to be too aggressive with the golf course being so firm and fiery. I tried to play a little bit conservative when I needed to. I ended up with some decent yardages in, so my approaches were pretty comfortable, and I putted really well today. I also made a couple of good scrambles towards the end when I got out of position off the tee.”
In a week in which Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup team will be finalised, Haeggman – a member of the 1993 side and the first Swede to play in the event – rolled back the years with a superb 67 that was bettered only by Drummond. His eight birdie salvo was capped by a magnificent 3-wood at the last from 250 yards to set up a comfortable two-putt birdie that took him to -7.
“I kept the ball in play well as it’s quite tight in places,” said the two-time Legends Tour winner. “I managed to drive the ball well and hit some really good wedges. If you can keep it on the fairways you’re going to have a chance to hit the greens, because they are a bit softer.
“The 18th was great, 3-wood off the tee and try to find the flat part of the fairway. From there I had 250 and gripped down on the 3-wood, caught it well and with the wind off the right managed to hit the green which is important.”
Baker and Webster, meanwhile, both carded impressive rounds of 68, making short work of the 6,973-yard layout, despite each making bogey on one of the reachable par-fives. Webster has enjoyed a strong start to his debut Legends Tour season, including a top-10 at the recent Staysure PGA Seniors Championship.
“I hit it close a lot today and gave myself a lot of birdie chances,” said Webster, who played more than 550 times on the DP World Tour. “I got a new putter on Monday and have rolled it great. Even the ones I’ve missed have only missed by a couple of inches. The back nine was a bit frustrating – I could have been a couple of shots better. The course isn’t easy. If you get a bit of a wrong kick, it could go 50 yards sideways, so it’s just fairways and greens this week. The greens are really good, so if you hit the greens you know you’ll give yourself a few chances.”
Thomas Gogele is at -4, one clear of Colin Montgomerie, Andrew Oldcorn, Adilson da Silva and the winner in Switzerland, Mark Brown.
Tournament host Roger Chapman, playing in the final event of his 44-year playing career, was going along nicely at -3 until a late bogey meant he had to settle for a 71 and a share of 11th place.
