Colm Moriarty of Team Ireland is tied eighth at the end of day one of the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final after carding an opening round of 69 in Puglia, Southern Italy in the final event of the 2010 Challenge Tour season – three shots off the pace.
Peter Gustafsson of Sweden, Steven Tiley of England and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria share the lead on five under after rounds of 66 at San Domenico Golf.
Gustafsson has twice missed out on securing a European Tour card by a single place in the Challenge Tour Rankings, finishing 16th in 2004 – when only the top 15 earned promotion – and then 21st a year ago.
With three rounds of the €300,000 event remaining Gustafsson has a chance of jumping from his current Ranking position of 35th into the all-important top 20 if he continues his form over the next three days. And luck may be with Gustafsson this year as he holed a bunker shot for a birdie on the fourth hole on Thursday.
Steven Tiley is seeking a top three finish which would see him climb the necessary six places from his current Ranking position of 26th and into contention. The 28 year old’s previous claims to fame were his victory in last year’s Egyptian Open and an opening round of 66 at this year’s Open Championship.
Wiesberger on the other hand is more relaxed safe in the knowledge that a return to The European Tour has long since been secured after two victories in France earlier this season.
Rankings leader Velasco endured an indifferent day, with two bogeys and a double at the 16th hole for an over par round of 72.
Fellow Spaniard, Carlos de Moral, endured better fortune after signing for a round of 67 which and a share of fourth place alongside Australian, Daniel Gaunt.
The duo have each won once on the Challenge Tour this season and both are currently inside the top 20, with English Challenge champion Gaunt in 12th, seven places higher than Del Moral.
American Christopher Ryan Baker and Sweden’s Pelle Edberg share sixth place on three under par after both men posted four birdies and a solitary bogey in their respective rounds of 68.
After 24 tournaments played across four Continents over nine months in 18 different countries, this is the climax of the 2010 Challenge Tour season as the top 45 players chase one of those vital 20 spots on offer to the European Tour next season.
