Swede leads Canaries Open

Shaven-headed Swede Johan Skold set the pace at the start of the Abama Canaries Open in Tenerife.

The 30-year-old, in danger of a ninth visit to the European Tour qualifying school in 10 years next month, returned a five-under-par 66.

Skold, who spoilt an even better day by three-putting the last for his only bogey, stands 126th on the Order of Merit.

At the end of the Majorca Classic in two weeks’ time only the leading 115 keep their cards and the 2001 tour school winner needs a top two finish to lift himself to safety.

“You just have to try to keep it out of your mind,” said Skold, who switched to a “skinhead” look six years ago.

“I was rooming with Per-Ulrik Johansson and was fed up with my hair – it was terrible. Per-Ulrik said he’d shave it all off if I wanted him to and that’s the way I’ve kept it ever since.”

While he was collecting six birdies five other players could not keep a double-figure score off their cards.

Former English amateur champions Mark Sanders and James Heath kicked off their rounds by taking 11 and 10 respectively at the long 10th.

Italian Marco Bernardini had a 10 there as well, while England’s Sam Walker took 10 on the par-four sixth and Paraguayan Marco Ruiz did the same at the 453-yard ninth.

For 42-year-olds Mark Roe and Santiago Luna, being paired together was fitting indeed – both were playing their 500th European Tour event.

Roe started birdie-eagle, pitching in for a two at the 387-yard 11th, but then three-putted three times for a 69. Luna, 129th on the money list against Roe’s 117th and therefore in even more dire need of a big week, shot 70.

As the day’s play drew to a close Skold was one ahead of South African Titch Moore, who still had three holes to go, while England’s John Bickerton, New Zealander Stephen Scahill and Argentina’s Andrew Romero stood three under out on the course.

Players’ chairman Jamie Spence, who lost his card a year ago but has already booked himself a return to the circuit next season, was four under with one to play, but then saw his seven iron approach to the steeply downhill ninth fly over 200 yards and over the green.

It led to a double bogey six.