Spain’s Alejandro Cañizares admitted he had few expectations in Australia before shooting a 63 to lead by the ISPS Handa Vic Open by two shots. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ALEJANDRO Cañizares carded a stunning opening 63 to lead the ISPS Handa Vic Open by two strokes after the first round.

The Spaniard made 10 birdies on the Creek Course at 13^th Beach Golf Links – carding four in his first five holes.

He also finished with three in a row to reach nine-under par.

Alejandro Cañizares said: “I played really nicely. The Creek is a little more accessible than the Beach – most of the par fives are reachable, and I took advantage of that.

“I putted really well. I didn’t make many mistakes, and I hit the ball nicely with my irons.

“I didn’t have many expectations for this week because it’s a long way from home – you don’t know how you’re going to feel. But I was hitting the ball well and I’m working on the right things.

“With my category on the European Tour, you have to take advantage of the events you can play. I really like the golf courses here in Australia – the only problem is the jetlag, so I’m trying to beat that.”

The 37-year-old, who will play his second round tomorrow on the Beach Course, sits two shots ahead of the Australian quartet of Matthew Griffin, Jake McLeod, Travis Smyth and Justin Warren, who each carded seven-under par 65s.

Jake McLeod admitted a good result would help with points on the Race to Dubai.

“It’s the first tournament of the year for me,” said McLeod. “I’m just looking to dust off the cobwebs and see if I can make it until Sunday.

“I like the course. I know I can get out there and don’t have to think too much about it– just give it a rip and see how we go.”

European Tour members Aaron Cockerill, Min Woo Lee and Robin Sciot-Siegrist are among those in a share of sixth place on six-under.

Min Woo Lee, who played with McLeod, said: “Jake and I fed off each other and we holed some putts at the end.

“Jake played pretty solid all day and I just finished off really nice on the back nine.

“Early on I holed the first two putts for birdie. I kind of fell from there, but I regained a little bit of focus and the back nine was really special.”

Last year’s runner-up Brad Kennedy joins them on that number.

Kennedy said: “It’s nice to come here and start the year really. I’ve just had six weeks off and picked the clubs up last Monday and tried to see what I could do.

“I guess the expectations of last year have gone and it’s all about trying to see what we can do for this year.”

Meanwhile last year’s champion David Law opened his title defence with a four-under par 68 on the Creek Course.

•For live scoring in the second round of the ISPS Handa Vic Open click here.

Spain’s Alejandro Cañizares admitted he had few expectations in Australia before shooting a 63 to lead by the ISPS Handa Vic Open by two shots. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Sagström overshadows Dame Davies

IN the women’s tournament South Korea’s Haeji Kang and Sweden’s Madelene Sagström share the lead on eight-under.

But it was Dame Laura Davies England most successful Ladies European Tour player ever, who rolled back the years on the Creek Course.

Ever the competitor, couldn’t help but laugh that her opening-round 67, her best round since 2018, was outdone by her playing partner Madelene Sagström’s 65.

“Still couldn’t win the group,” Davies laughed when interviewed after her first competitive round in six months.

It was her first competitive round since August, when she tied for 24th at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.

Davies, who has more than 80 professional victories to her name, including 20 on the LPGA Tour, revealed: “My mum wasn’t very well and I just stayed at home with her.

“Just kept entering tournaments and had to withdraw, withdraw because she wasn’t getting any better.

“It just worked out that I had six months off and now I turn up here not knowing what I’m doing.

“I’ve been on Tour 35 years and I didn’t have a clue what to do. It was a bit weird, but a good result.”

A good result, indeed. Playing in what she called one of her favourite tournaments, the 56-year-old from Byfleet, said her putting was some of the best of her illustrious career.

Davies gave much the credit to good friend and former LPGA Tour player Rebecca Artis, an Australia native, who is caddying for Davies on the swing Down Under.

“She’s a really good green reader. She does that AimPoint, which bamboozles me. I haven’t got a clue what she’s up to, but she got the lines right,” added Davies.

“If I keep striking it like that and she keeps reading it like that, we might have a chance making the cut and make the weekend and see what happens, which when I got here I wasn’t too sure about.”

Former American college golf star Haley Moore, who is making her LPGA debut as a professional this week, shares third place on seven-under.

The ISPS Handa Vic Open sees men’s and women’s tournaments take place concurrently on the same golf courses at 13^th Beach Golf Links for equal prize money.

Competitors who played their first rounds on the Beach Course will play their second rounds on the Creek Course, and vice versa, with all the action taking place on the Beach Course over the weekend.

The 36-hole cut will reduce both tournaments to the top 60 and ties, with a further cut taking place after Saturday’s third round to the top 35 and ties from each competition for the final round.

•For live scoring in the second round of the ladies’ ISPS Handa Vic Open click here.

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The signature 17th hole with the 13th green in the foreground at Lumine’s Hills Course, which will stage the European Tour Qualifying School Final next month.

THE Lumine golf resort which will host the final stage of next month’s European Tour Qualifying School has upgraded the Hills Course before the 156 players battling for their 2020 playing rights arrive in Tarragona.

Lumine Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community, which has two championship courses, has also refitted the Lakes Course clubhouse as part of an ongoing €2million redevelopment programme.

A major fairway drainage project on the Hills Course has been central to ensuring a high quality of fairway turf throughout the year on the Costa Daurada course.

As a result, the rough lining the fairways has also become much more defined, giving even the best golfers an additional challenge if they miss the short grass.

Adjoining areas of play have been improved and are also much better defined now thanks to the addition of nearly 20,000 plants and shrubs that line and shape the walkways.

The improvements not only improve the overall look and feel of the course, but are ready to claim any errant shot that goes their way, says the course’s general manager Calle Carlsson.

All the buggy paths have also been upgraded with new kerbs and improved routing, to better protect the fairway and rough.

On the Lakes Course, the clubhouse is now an even more focal point for guests visiting Lumine as the result of a major refit.

The design aims to offer a lighter, more open plan environment that maximises the view over the daunting par five 18th hole and the water hazard surrounding the green.

The reception area has also been modernised, with new sign in technology that will make check-in much more efficient, while the pro shop has received a complete refresh, aimed at creating a premium boutique feel with improved display areas.

Calle Carlsson said: “It has been quite an undertaking, but we are delighted with the results so far, with many more changes to come in the months ahead.

“Not only have the changes enhanced the playability of the Hills Course, the premium feel we have created in the Lakes Course clubhouse enhances our reputation as a premier golf destination.

“We look forward to welcoming the next generation of potential European Tour players in November and, beyond that, the many thousands of golfers that visit every year to play.”

The upgrades have been completed ahead of the European Tour Final Qualifying Stage, which takes place over six rounds from November 15-20.

Those teeing it up in November will not only face a sterner test across all 108 holes on both courses, they will also be able to take advantage of the improved facilities when recuperating after their round.

European Tour Qualifying Final Stage tournament director Mike Stewart said: “This is the eighth year we have visited Lumine as part of Qualifying School – and the third time it wll host Final Stage.

“Every time we come back the team has made improvements and their commitment to presenting both courses in top condition for the event is very impressive.

“We always get great feedback from the players and look forward to working with the team to deliver another fantastic event next month.”

•To book your stay at one of Spain’s premier golf and leisure destinations, and for information about the packages on offer click here.

The new reception area in the clubhouse of Lumine’s Lakes Course which will greet the 156 players who make it through to the final stage of the 2019 Euorpean Tour Qualifying School

Amateur Champions shone in Spain

AMONG those who came through European Tour Qualifying School in 2018 were two former Amateur Champions.

Hampshire’s Scott Gregory and France’s Romain Langasque earned a full Tour card along with America’s Kurt Kitayama, who went on to win twice in his first 11 appearances on the European Tour between December and March.

Ironically the two players had met in the final of the 2016 Spanish Amateur Championship at Royal Valencia Golf Club.

Langasque, who had won the Amateur Championship in 2015 at Carnoustie, went on to win a one-sided final, but it spurred on the Corhampton golfer, who was crowned Langasque’s successor just three months later at Royal Porthcawl – beating Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.

The pair were Walker Cup team-mates a year later in Los Angeles are now and both playing on the European Tour after MacIntyre qualifed via the European Challenge Tour in 2018.

Last year’s ETQS winner in north-east Spain was Spaniard Alejandro Canizares while Florida-based Englishman Sam Horsfield was the first winner of the final stage held at Lumine, back in 2017.

Lincolnshire’s Nathan Kimsey was the surprise winner three years ago, the last time ETQS was held at PGA de Catalunya – the ninth year in row the final stage was held at the Girona venue.

Essex’s Richard McEvoy and Simon Khan were the winners in 2003 and 2009 respectively.

Three Englishmen in a row claimed the title after Khan – Northumberland’s Simon Wakefield, Somerset’s David Dixon and John Parry from Yorkshire, in 2012.

After eight venues across Europe hosted the first stage in September and October, players will be heading to Spain in the first week of November fighting for about half of the 156 places availble at Lumine.

The four venues are Alenda Golf and Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, in Alicante, Desert Springs, in Almeria, and Bonmont Golf Club in Tarragona.

All four tournaments will take place from November 7-10, with the first round of stage three commencing at Lumine, just five days after the final round at stage two

•For more information about stage two of the European Tour Qualifying School click here.

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