In-form Cutler off to a flier as he joins early leaders in Denmark
The Portstewart star, who played such a vital role in Ireland’s European team title triumph last month in Turin, collecting a maximum six points in the match-play phase, fired a level par 71 to be just three strokes behind early pacemaker Luke Goddard, the English international from Hendon.
Cutler was in inspired form on his way to the turn, going out in two under par 34 comprising three birdies, one bogey and six pars.
But he stumbled a little on the way home dropping strokes on the 10th after a poor drive and 13th and failing to pick up a birdie.
But Cutler generally hit the ball very well from tee and fairway and chipped and putted immaculately to make a solid start to the tournament; the winner of which will be exempt to next year’s Open at Turnberry.
Shane Lowry, who moved into fourth position in the world rankings following his recent victory in the Mullingar Scratch Cup, desperately wants to make his mark here and started steadily handing in a 73 to be in joint 22nd position at the end of day one.
In fact it was not a great day for Ireland as Niall Kearney and Irish champion Paul O’Hanlon both struggled over this demanding layout.
Kearney from Royal Dublin was wayward in compiling a 75 while O’Hanlon from The Curragh took 77. And Andrew Hogan, Cian Curley and Dara Lernihan will have to step up a gear over the next two days if they are to survive the 54-hole cut.
Meanwhile Goddard is at the top of the leaderboard had a super bogey-free round.
Leading first round scores:-
68 L Goddard (Hendon)
69 J Van Der Vaart (Holland), E Pepperell (Drayton Park), A Friestad (Norway), R Kind (Holland)
70 R Nielsen (Denmark)
71 P Cutler (Portstewart)
72 B Enoch (Truro), J Campillo (Spain), C Terragni (Italy), P O’Hara (Colville Park), G Dear (Murrayshall), M Glauert (Germany, M Madsden (Denmark), S Einhaus (Germany), H Norlander (Sweden), S Garcia (Spain), D Whitnell (Five Lakes), E Dubois (France), N Bertasio (Italy), S Matus (Czech Republic).
Other Irish scores:73 S Lowry (Esker Hills);
75 N Kearney (Royal Dublin);
77 P O’Hanlon (The Curragh);
79 A Hogan (Newlands);
81 C Curley (Newlands);
83 D Lernihan (Castle).
