Joakimides takes it easy

Austrian amateur Lukas Nemecz took a one stroke advantage ahead of pros at Gösser Open. The 20 year old young gun had to struggle with a poor driving but knew the course so well that his recoveries and putts made the score : 64, 8 under par.

“I have played many amateur events on this course and honestly today, 95% of the score was my short game. It is nice to be at this level. I intend to turn pro but I don’t know when. Maybe at the end of the year.”

The weather was perfect at Maria Lankowitz for this first round, no wind and more than 27° under the sun. The best scores mainly came from the morning session but as an exception, English Matthew Cryer shot 65, one stroke behind the leader, in the afternoon. He was -9 with 2 holes to play and then missed the first step of the provisional podium :

“I dropped two shots on the last two holes, what a poor finish ! But whatever, I am happy, I played very solid. I am not so used to put on greens with grain but I managed to adapt the pace quite well.” Cryer won in Italy last year and started 2010 with excellent results.

Fellow rookie English Farren Keenan, 25 year old, signed for a very solid 66 and did not drop any shot. He confessed that it took him some time to enter the season.

“I had a one month break during Christmas which normally I never had. The winter was very hard this year in England, we had snow. Then it took me a while to feel good with my game again and it is OK now.”

Keenan turned pro end of 2009. His nicest result last year was to win at the Berkshire Trophy as defending champion.

Tie at third position, 21 year old Italian Nunzio Lombardi, who has just turned pro. He only hit 10 greens but holed 25 putts and obviously confirmed that golf is not “how” but “how much”…

The leader of the Order of Merit, Matteo Delpodio shot 68 with a perfect game on the first nine and then some frustration not to hole more putts to be higher on the leader board at the end of his round.

The projected cut is -2 and the weather forecast is very good for tomorrow as well.

At Maria Lankowitz
Agathe Séron