Golf

Three share the lead in Morocco as Kevin Phelan leads Irish charge

Phelan is one of seven Irish golfers in action during the opening day of the Hassan Trophy

Younes El Hassani of Morocco walks to the green on the 9th hole during the first round of the Trophee Hassan II at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Younes El Hassani of Morocco walks to the green on the 9th hole during the first round of the Trophee Hassan II at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Thu May 05 2016 - 20:39

Australia's Jason Scrivener, Italy's Francesco Laporta and France's Thomas Linard share the lead after the opening day of the Hassan Trophy as Morocco's Younes El Hassani gave the home fans something to cheer in Rabat.

Scrivener, Laporta and Linard all carded four-under-par rounds of 68 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam to finish a shot ahead of the chasing pack, which included world number 1,117 Hassani.

Kevin Phelan leads the Irish challenge after a two under par round of 70. Gary Hurley ended his opening day one under while Peter Lawrie also carded a round of 71 with two birdies and a bogey.

Paul Dunne dropped a shot on the 17th to finish with a level par 72 as Cormac Sharvin finished one over.

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Michael Hoey who won in Agadir in 2012 had a disappointing round of 77 while Rory McNamara signed for a round of 80. He booked himself a place in this week's tour by winning the Tony Jacklin Classic on the EDP Tour – a mini tour based in Munich.

Hassani, whose only made cut in 17 appearances on the European Tour came at the same venue in 2010, carded three birdies and no bogeys in a flawless 69 to finish alongside Adrien Saddier, Tani Goya, Mike Lorenzo-Vera and Borja Virto Astudillo.

“I played good today,” Hassani told Sky Sports. “I hit a couple of fairways and when you do that it’s easier on the second shot to hit the green.

“I also made a couple of (recovery) shots like Seve (Ballesteros) and made three birdies and no bogeys.”

The Red course in Rabat measures almost 7,500 yards — the Blue course is staging the Lalla Meryem Cup on the Ladies European Tour this week — and Hassani added: “It’s a very big course for me — 250 metres is a long hit for me. I have to play good tomorrow and shoot one or two under, depending on the weather and my game.”

Scrivener finished 117th in the Race to Dubai last season and had to regain his card through the qualifying school for the second consecutive year, but has missed just one cut in nine events and was third in the Perth International in February.

“It was pretty tricky out there this morning, pretty wet and quite cold, so to shoot a 68 in those conditions was very pleasing,” Scrivener said.

“There are some tricky holes early on, so to birdie two of my first four was just the sort of start I was looking for. After that, I hung in there well and putted nicely, so it was a good day all round.”

Laporta, who also came through the qualifying school in November, was two over par after three holes but recovered brilliantly with four birdies and an eagle.

“I played very badly for the first five events, but last week in Madrid on the Challenge Tour was much better,” he said. “I finished fourth and took a lot of confidence from the week, so hopefully that has turned my season around.”

Linard was two shots clear of the field after five birdies and an eagle in his first 13 holes, but dropped two shots on the closing stretch to settle for a share of the lead.

Spanish Open champion Andrew Johnston was among those two shots off the lead after an opening 70, the 27-year-old showing no signs of being affected by the celebrations which followed his maiden title at Valderrama last month.

Johnston carded four birdies and two bogeys to finish a shot ahead of South Africa’s Dean Burmester and France’s Alexander Levy, who at 97th and 100th respectively are the only players in the world’s top 100 in the field.