WILTSHIRE’S Ben Stow, Adrian Meronk, Martin Simonsen recorded six-under par 66S to share the lead at the Rolex Trophy, in Switzerland.
The trio, who all carded bogey-free front nine scores, started quickly on Wednesday morning, and ended the day with a share of the one-stroke lead at the top of the leaderboard at Switzerland’s Golf Club de Genève in this week’s Eurpean Challenge Tour event.
Both Poland’s Meronk and Simonsen, from Denmark, are making their maiden appearances in the exclusive 40-man Rolex Trophy and showed no signs of inexperience following their low rounds.
Stow – the winner of the Brabazon Trophy, awarded at the English Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship, back in 2014 – finished in a share of eighth place 12 months ago.
Last year’s Prague Challenge Open winner – who is attacked to Rushmore Golf Club on the edge of the New Forest, continued his good form on the Geneva course with a round of 66,
The University of Kentucky graduate, who represented England in the Eisenhower Trophy in 2014, included seven birdies and only one bogey.
Dane Simonsen raced out of the blocks with six birdies in his front nine, including three in a row ahead of the turn, and returned to the clubhouse in level par after a bogey and a birdie among seven pars.
“I would’ve taken that score this morning,” said Simonsen. “I was hoping for a little more after the front nine I had when I was six-under par after nine holes, which was nice.
“And I had a good look at the 10th for birdie to get to seven-under, but six-under is good and I’m happy with it.
“I played really well on seven, eight and nine, where I had fairly easy birdies. I lost momentum a little on the back nine.
“I hit a good shot on 11 but miscalculated the wind so it came up short and then I missed a short putt for par.
“It’s always nice being towards the top of the leaderboard, so hopefully I can put together a couple of good rounds and see where we end up.”
Picture by ROLEX
Meronk made back-to-back birdies to begin his inaugural round at Golf Club de Genève before carding the first of two eagles at the par five fifth hole.
His only dropped shot of the day came at the 10th, but he responded with a birdie at the 13th and his second eagle at the par five 15th to reach the six-under target.
“It was a very solid day,” said Meronk. “I played really well and I’m very pleased with my game.
“It’s only the first day but it’s a good position to be in. There is still a lot of golf to be played but I’m excited for the next three days.
“They were solid eagles on two of the par fives. I hit two solid shots off the tee, which you need to do around here, and that allowed me to go for the green in two, so I was very happy with those two holes.”
The trio hold a one-shot lead over a group of four players, including Challenge Tour No. 1 and 2 Calum Hill and Antoine Rozner.
The pair sit alongside Spaniard Carlos Pigem and Ricardo Santos, from Portgual, in a tie for fourth after carding 67s.
Simonsen gets the second round under way at 7.30am local time while Stow is off at 8.20am and Meronk at 12.30pm.
