Senior Tour Rookie Santiago Luna and three time winner on the tour, Gary Wolstenholme, were tied at the top after the opening round of the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open thanks to six under par rounds of 64.
Spaniard Luna is playing just his third tournament on the Senior Tour after turning 50 last November and his round got off to a flying start at Golf Club Bad Ragaz in Switzerland, opening with back to back birdies.
Three pars followed before a rollercoaster four holes during which birdies at the seventh and eighth were sandwiched in between bogeys at the sixth and ninth as he reached the turn in two under.
The former European Tour winner had a much more impressive back nine though as he gained a shot at the tenth before three birdies in four holes, at the 13th, 15th and 16th meant he stormed into the early clubhouse lead with the best round of his short Senior Tour career.
“I played really well today and I only missed one green,” said Luna. “I was very consistent, I put my ball on the fairways and on the greens and you need to do that here because if you miss a fairway you will have problems.
“I think step by step I am getting more comfortable on the Senior Tour and it is a nice experience to be playing with the players of my generation, although it is not easy out here because everybody plays so well. I feel like my game is getting better though and hopefully I can take that into the weekend.”
Wolstenholme followed Luna into the clubhouse soon after with another stunning 64 which came thanks to seven birdies and a single bogey, the Englishman also carding a four under par back nine en route to a share of the lead, two shots clear.
“It wasn’t sparking stuff today from me but I read the greens really well and putted nicely,” said the six-time Walker Cup player. “I didn’t strike the ball very well so I’m going to go to the range and work that out because when I win I am usually hitting the ball well.
“My best putt was probably at 17 – it was only 12 feet but it was a really breaky putt. I got some really good six or seven foot clutch putts which were really nice too.
“I love this place. People always talk about the usual places like Mauritius but it is just stunning here, Switzerland is a great country and the views are just staggering.”
Two shots back on four under par were Philip Golding and George Ryall of England alongside Canadian Phil Jonas, while former Ryder Cup Captains Mark James and Ian Woosnam and record Senior Tour title winner Carl Mason were among the group a shot further back on three under par.
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