American Tim Thelen leads the European Senior Tour Qualifying School – Stage One after posting a round of 64 on the Gramacho Course at Pestana Golf Resort, on Portugal’s Algarve.
Thelen tamed the Nick Price-designed layout to surge to the top of the leader board on eight under par, two shots clear of Scotland’s Albert Mackenzie, who notched a superb round of 66 at the same course.
England’s John Hoskison, who earned a conditional card after finishing tenth at the 2008 Qualifying School – Final Stage, is in third place on four under par.
Pat Errity finished the day one under par after a round of 71.
John McBride signed for a 76 and a four over par total.
Over on the tougher Silves Golf Course, the lowest rounds of the day were posted by Argentina’s Miguel Guzman and England’s Andrew Macdonald, who shot matching 67s.
Eoin Feely carded a round of 72 to end the opening day on 2 over par.
Dermot Morris was 9 over par following a round of 79.
The two fields will now swap courses for the second and final round of the First Stage ahead of next week’s Final Stage, when a minimum of 72 players will battle it out at Pestana’s Vale da Pinta for the 14 cards available for the 2011 European Senior Tour season.
Victor Garcia was level par for the day aftre a 72 on the Gramacho course.
