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| Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe |
Shiv Kapur fired six successive birdies to set the standard at the Prosper Golf Resort with and Peter Hanson just one stroke back as the Swede tries to strengthen his Ryder Cup aspirations.
Kapur made his burst from the second to seventh holes to establish gain the early initiative at Prosper Golf Resort in Čeladná and, although he began the back nine with two bogeys in a row, birdies on the 16th and 18th helped him card a six under par 66 to set the pace.
The 28 year old Indian, who lost in a play-off to Richie Ramsay in the South African Open Championship earlier this season, boasts a one shot cushion over Argentinean Tano Goya, whose 67 included six birdies and a bogey, and Ryder Cup hopeful Hanson.
Goya continued his own affinity with Prosper Golf Resort after leading in the first round last year, while England’s Richard Bland shares third spot on four under par with Frenchman Julien Guerrier.
Five players were a shot further back: Australian Rick Kulacz’s 69 featured an eagle on the par five seventh, while José Manuel Lara, Scott Hend, Richard Finch and Clodomiro Carranza remain well placed after a largely profitable first day.
Ireland’s Peter Lawrie bogeyed the 18th to slip to two under par, one of 15 players who shot 70s.
Simon Dyson was among them, like Hanson having shaken off jet lag to boost his own Ryder Cup hopes with four closing birdies.
On Sunday the Englishman shared 12th place in the US PGA Championship, then flew back from Chicago on Monday night, caught another flight to Prague and took a train to Ostrava.
Dyson is 16th in the race for a place in the European Ryder Cup Team with only one week to go, and is keen to build on a promising first round.
Damien McGrane dropped three shots early on the front nine and finished two over for the day after a signing for a 74.
Gary Murphy went five over par after nine holes but recovered to finish with a 74 on 2 over.
Simon Thornton also signed for a 74 for a share of 69th place.
Shane Lowry finished 3 over par with a 75.
