Andrew Marshall produced a brilliant eight-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the European Legends Cup by SR Nexus at Fontanals Golf.

The European Legends Cup marks the next stop on the Staysure Legends Tour as the second half of the season gets underway, with Fontanals Golf welcoming the Tour to La Cerdanya for the third edition of the tournament.

The Englishman mixed an eagle and nine birdies with three bogeys during an eventful opening round in La Cerdanya, before finishing in style with back-to-back birdies to move clear at the top of the leaderboard.

Marshall made his first move with an eagle at the par-five second and added four further birdies before the turn. After dropping shots at the third, eighth and 14th, he responded strongly down the closing stretch, holing from around 30 feet at the 17th before hitting his approach close at the last to sign for a 64.

Bradley Dredge is his nearest challenger after producing a bogey-free seven-under-par 65. The Welshman made four birdies in an outward 32 before adding three more on the back nine, including one at the 18th, to finish just one shot behind Marshall.

Dredge, who has had a home in Spain for 20 years, credited his familiarity with Spanish conditions and grainy greens for helping his putting as he made an impressive start to his pursuit of a second Staysure Legends Tour title, having claimed his first at the 2023 Legends Tour Trophy.

Simon Griffiths and Philip Golding share third place on five-under-par after matching rounds of 67. Griffiths did much of his damage after the turn, coming home in 31 with six birdies and a solitary bogey, while Golding also finished strongly with five birdies over his closing nine holes.

Thomas Levet, Jean Hugo and Van Phillips sit a further shot back on four-under-par following rounds of 68, with Levet praising the condition of Fontanals Golf and describing its greens as the best the Tour has played on this season.

Road to Cambodia Order of Merit contender Stephen Gallacher is among a large group on three-under-par after opening with a 69. With current leader Mikael Lundberg absent this week, the Scot has the opportunity to move to the top of the season-long standings with a strong performance in Spain.

With five shots covering Marshall and the large group on three-under, the European Legends Cup remains finely poised heading into Friday’s second round at Fontanals Golf.

For full leaderboard, click here.

Player Reactions

Andrew Marshall (-8)

“Very happy. I played pretty solid. I was up against it a little bit with Stevie G and Thomas Gögele because they’re proper players and they’re 40 yards past me, so I was just trying to play my game.”

“I just stuck to my plan and tried to keep it in play. The putting was mostly where it added up. The guys shot 69 and I got 64 somehow, and that’s only because I holed a few more putts than them.”

“I holed about a 30-footer on 17 and then hit it stiff on the last. All of a sudden I’ve gone from going along nicely to possibly snatching a lead.”

“It’s very rural, very quiet and a superb facility. It’s a lovely golf course, the range is fantastic and the greens are superb.”

Bradley Dredge (-7)

“Obviously, 65, I’m delighted with the score. It can always be lower, but it can always be worse as well.”

“It was a bit of a tale of two halves. On the front nine I was hitting the ball well but missed a lot of chances from around 15 feet. On the back nine I didn’t play quite as well, but I putted better.”

“The back nine is a little bit tougher, so you don’t have as many chances. I made a couple of good saves and then a couple of good birdie putts. The front nine was ball-striking and the back nine was putting.”

“I’ve had a place in Spain for 20 years and the biggest thing has been putting on grainy greens. It’s really helped my green reading over the years. It’s subtle, but it all helps.”

“I’ve only had one win so far, so I’m doing my utmost to take it out there now, have another two good rounds and see where that puts me at the end of the tournament.”

Thomas Levet (-4)

“I played pretty solid. I didn’t drive the ball very well because I’m injured in my shoulder, but with the shorter clubs it’s a lot easier.”

“My putting was really, really good. The greens here are the same speed as the ones I have at home, so I felt at ease on them, and that helps a lot when you’re making putts.”

“I had a few good breaks as well. On number 10, I hit it down the right side, chipped out and then missed the green in the bunker. I hit it maybe 40 feet away and then made the putt, so that was a big bonus.”

“From short distance I was very good today. I hit a lot of shots inside three or four feet and made all of them.”

“It’s absolutely unbelievable. When you look at the location, you feel like you’re right in the middle of the mountains.”

“The greens are the best we’ve had all year, by far. The fairways are perfect. It’s a course where you need to think your way around, so it’s a really nice place.”

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