17 April 2008
French Michael Lorenzo-vera takes early first round lead at Volvo China Open
Posted by admin under: Volvo China Open .
Unheralded Michael Lorenzo-vera of France set the early pace at the Volvo China Open when he fired a five-under-par 67 to take the first round lead on Thursday.
Asian Tour regulars, Simon Griffiths of England and Jason Knutzon of the United States are a further shot back in tied-second, after they both posted matching 68s with Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, Ireland’s Damien McGrane, England’s Zane Scotland and Li Chao of China.
Despite playing in his rookie year on the European Tour, Lorenzo-vera is already showing signs of maturity on tour and coping well with the demands of the game.
The 23-year-old Frenchman got off to a shaky start with an opening bogey but got himself back into the game with a birdie on the second followed by another two more in the sixth and ninth holes before making the turn in 33.
“I am just enjoying my rookie year now. I am making better decisions and it is getting easier,” said Lorenzo-vera. “I just have to be more confident on what I am doing and I’m sure I’ll do well.”
Knutzon, who had to endure a frustrating start to the season, having missed the cut in five of the six events that he has played on the Asian Tour so far, looks set to turn his fortunes around after recording a blemish free bogey round at the US$2.2 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association.
“I played good steady round of golf today. I had four birdies and no bogeys. I drove it well and hit a lot of good iron shots,” said the American, whose last victory on the Asian Tour was in Indonesia last season.
“I always want to win tournaments and I’ve been happy enough to win twice on the tour. Hopefully those victories are not going to come once every few years. It will be nice if it can happen every year!” added Knutzon.
Meanwhile, Griffiths seems to be running away with the lead, especially with his blistering run of four birdies and an eagle two on his opening front nine.
The Englishman, however could not sustain the momentum and surrendered his lead after recording three successive bogeys starting from the 13th.
“It was a very strange round. I was very happy to go out in 29 on the turn but it was a very disappointing back nine,” said Griffiths.
“I was just on the edge of the par-five 13th in three and knocked up it to four but missed. The 14th was a very tough hole so that was a bogey and then the next hole was also a disappointing one as I had a poor second shot which unfortunately found the bunker,” added Griffiths.