Julien Foret (c) Agathe Séron

Former European Tour player Julien Foret and Spanish playing partner Jesus Legarrea fired five-under-par 68s before Fabien Marty joined them in the lead after the first round of the Open International de Rebetz outside Paris on Wednesday.

Foret started with an eagle at the par-five first hole and took advantage of the Golf de Rebetz’s five par-fives with another two birdies to end with no bogies on his card.

The 30-year-old Frenchman escaped with a par from the trees on the intimidating par-five 18th and said his cautious approach all day had been the key to finishing on top.

“We had to be very careful with respect to the flag positions. Even approaches of 50-60 metres were tough as the greens were so hard,” said Foret.

Legarrea blasted a three wood down the 18th and his 25-metre eagle putt to move to six-under lipped out.
“It was a tiring round. The course was so dry and we were forced to think all the time about where to put the ball and when to attack the pins,” he said.

Marty, who matched Legarrea’s six-birdie round and also had a solitary bogey, finished in the pouring rain as the morning’s windier conditions calmed down and said he enjoyed attacking the par fives.

“You can quickly lower your score on the par fives,” said Marty.

Spaniards Patrick Simard Bascunan and Borja Etchart, also in the afternoon pairings, were in second place on four-under with seven players a further shot behind including Ireland’s Brendan McCarroll, who holed out from 110 metres for eagle at the par-four 17th.

“It was a bit of a bonus there on 17. It’s a green you never want to putt on as it’s so slopey,” said McCarroll, who won twice on the Alps Tour last year but narrowly failed to secure a place on the Challenge Tour.

“My pitch mark was about half a metre in front of the pin so I’m guessing it jumped forward and then spun back off the slope,” he added.

Alps Tour Order of Merit leader Andrew Cooley of England was left rueing a three-putt on the par-three ninth hole, his last, to finish on one-under, however he was looking forward to Thursday’s play with the course set to be softened by the rain.

“I think it will play a lot softer and longer tomorrow which will be better for me,” said the 23-year-old, in his second year on the Alps Tour.

Former Challenge Tour player Raphael de Sousa of Switzerland only entered the tournament on Tuesday and on his return to the tour he carded a 75.

The projected cut is level par.

From Rebetz
Tom Pilcher

Golfmanager Press Agency