Jordan Smith shoots 66 to lead Trophee Hassan II

Jordan Smith who came through Wiltshire’s junior ranks, lead the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco after a seven-under par 66 on Thursday. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

WILTSHIRE’S Jordan Smith carded a blemish-free round of 66 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam to lead the Trophée Hassan II by one stroke after 18 holes.

The Englishman, who started from the par-four 10th, parred his first four holes in Morocco but birdies on the 14th, 15th and 17th holes saw him make the turn three-under.

On the front nine he maintained his consistency, making four birdies in five holes from the third to the seventh as he signed for a seven-under 66.

Just six years ago this month, Smith put himself in contention to play in the Walker Cup for Great Britain and Ireland’s amateurs against the USA by winning the Selborne Salver at Hampshire’s Blackmoor GC.

The Bowood player who played for GB&I in the States at the National Golf Links of America, in Southampton, New York, said: “The first four holes, I couldn’t really hit a barn door, and just scrambled well for the first two, stuck in there and it all came together at the right time.

“I hit a lot of nice iron shots sort of close. Made a few nice putts. I hit a lot of iron shots close. I think that was key for me today.

“I rolled it really nice. That’s probably the best I’ve putted for a longs time and I made – I scrambled when I needed to – when I missed a green, I chipped on and holed the putt.

“It was all about momentum for me today,” added Smith, who sits one ahead of Spain’s Alejandro Cañizares and America’s Sean Crocker, who both recorded bogey-free rounds of 67 on the formidable par-73 Red Course.

One stroke further back on five-under are Frenchman Matthieu Pavon and Stephen Gallacher – winner of the Hero Indian Open last month.

The Scotsman carded just the second albatross on the European Tour this season, holing out from 246 yards with his second shot, using a three-iron on the par-five eighth hole.

Gallacher, who has suffered through injuries since helping Europe to win the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, in 2014, had his son Jack on the bag as he was when winning at New Delhi’s DLF Golf and Country Club.

Stephen said “Jack was confident on it. He said – well, it was only one club. It was just whether the ball flight – I had to flight it in a little bit.

“It was 240, so I was trying to land it 225 and run it up the green. It just came off perfect.

“The perfect trajectory and got a good bounce and just thought it was going to run up to eight-foot or something like that and it went in. First one as a pro.”

American Sean Crocker is looking to take the same route Brooks Koepka took to success on the PGA Tour having earned his card via the Challenge Tour last season, just as the reigning US Open and USPGA Champion did back in 2013.

Sean said: “I putted really well. I had five weeks off this last – after Kenya, and then I just went home and I just worked on my game and it seems to be paying off.

“For me that was a big key in kind of getting the season rolling in the right direction.

“My game wasn’t far off but it was sloppy and I wasn’t making putts, so those five weeks off couldn’t have helped me more,” added the Californian, who is taught by David Leadbitter.

Canizares, who won the 2014 Trophee Hassan II at Golf du Palais Royal, said: “The first 12 holes, I played great.

“I didn’t miss many shots. It was very fun. I had a little luck on a couple coming in on six and seven.

“But overall, I played great. I missed a few, but I made a couple. Very pleased I birdied the last, on nine, a difficult hole.”

“The last two months I had a baby, so I haven’t been able to practise much,” he said. “Which sometimes helps because there’s no expectations.

“I’ve been working with Robert Rock and his partner Liam James and I’ve been working on my swing quite well. I like the way we are working on it and it feels easier, the things I’m doing.

“I started working on my short game back with my old coach, Mike Walker, and he’s helped me. My short game is getting there.”

“I missed a couple, but I obviously made a few, so I can’t complain. Golf is like that,” added the Spaniard, who watched his ball sit on the edge of the 12th for what seemed ages before toppling in for birdie.

Also in contention is the 2016 Trophée Hassan II champion Edoardo Molinari, who sits in sixth place on four under par.