Barnard Castle’s Robert Dinwiddie battled windy conditions to lead after the first round of the Bretagne Open, in France, Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ROBERT Dinwiddie tamed tough scoring conditions at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val-André to hold a narrow advantage after the first day of the Open de Bretagne.

The 36-year-old, who is attached to The Richmond Golf Club, in south-west London, carded an opening round of four-under par 66 in just his second Challenge Tour start of the season.

That saw him finish one shot clear of Icelandic duo Gudmundur Kristjansson and Birgir Hafthorsson.

The Durham golfer, who was born over the border in Dumfries, birdied three of his last six holes to move into the lead on a day where strong winds pummeled the seaside venue.

Runner-up at the 2013 edition of the tournament, Dinwiddie has made the most of his limited starts this season, finishing in the top 20 at his only other Challenge Tour appearance, the Hauts de France – Pas de Calais Golf Open.

His four-under total is the highest first round lead at a Challenge Tour event this year, and only 16 of the 156-man field broke par as sustained winds blew across the firm and fast venue throughout the day.

‘’I played really well, it’s nice to be back out playing,” said Dinwiddie, who became the first-ever amateur to hold the English, Welsh and Scottish Strokeplay amateur titles at the same time after claiming the Brabazon Trophy in 2006, after winning the other two in 2005.

“I putted really well out there and holed solid putts on six, seven and eight to finish it off nicely, so overall, I’m really happy with my performance out there,” added the former Tennessee State University player, who was a member at Barnard Castle in the North East as an amateur.

‘’I got just about everything I could out of my round today. I haven’t been able to play many Challenge Tour events because of my ranking, but I feel like my game’s in a good place.

“I haven’t been able to put my game under this kind of scrutiny at this level for a while, so I’m happy I was able to hold it together – and I’m hopeful I can continue this form over the next few days,” said Dinwiddie, who took break from the game in 2012 and spent a few months windsurfing in Thailand to recharge his batteries.

Meanwhile, experience also paid off for Hafthorsson, who clinched the first, and still only, win by an Icelander on the Challenge Tour at the 2017 Open de Bretagne.

Teeing up only his third Challenge Tour start this season, the former champion carded five birdies and two bogeys to sit one back on three-under.

Looking to add to the Icelandic win tally as well is Kristjansson, who is searching for his maiden Challenge Tour victory following a successful stretch playing on the Nordic Golf League.

Starting in the first group of the day, the 26-year-old carded the best score of the morning wave, a three-under 67, which included six birdies and three bogeys, as many of the early starters struggled to break par.

Frederic Lacroix is the leading French player after an opening round of 68 left him in a tie for fifth, with local amateur and Monday qualifier Victor Joffray sitting a shot further back.

Dinwiddie begins his second round tomorrow at 7.50am, with Hafthorsson getting under way at 8.30am and Kristjansson teeing off at 12pm.

For live scoring in the second round click here.

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Royal Liverpool’s Matthew Jordan, could have been playing in this weekend’s Walker Cup match at his home course Hoylake, but now is heading towards a European Tour card after his first win on the Challenge Tour. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MATTHEW Jordan is looking to follow in the footsteps of his 2017 Walker Cup teammate Jack Singh Brar by winning the Open de Bretagne, which gets under way at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André on Thursday morning.

The Englishman is one of several players from the 2017 Great Britain and Ireland squad to achieve success on the Challenge Tour since entering the paid ranks.

The former plus-seven handicapper currently occupies the fifth position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings.

But if he had remained as an amateur for 12 months more, he would have been a locked in pick for the Great Britain and Ireland team that will try to regain the Walker Cup at his home course – Royal Liverpool – this weekend.

With one victory already to his name this season – at the Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil in June – Jordan is one of three members of the 2017 Walker Cup squad to win on the Challenge Tour so far.

Hampshire Golf junior programme graduate Singh-Brar became the first to do so at the Open de Bretagne 12 months ago, while Connor Syme secured his maiden victory at the 2019 Turkish Airlines Challenge.

It has been a year to remember for the 23-year-old who burst into the spotlight after a spectacular opening round of nine-under par 63 at the Betfred British Masters, where he ultimately finished in a tie for 15th.

With five top 10 finishes on the Challenge Tour this year all focus is now on ensuring that he secures one of the 15 European Tour cards up for grabs on the season-long Road to Mallorca.

‘’I’m trying not to think about the rankings too much,’’ Jordan said. ‘’I’d much rather be in this position than to be chasing.

“This way there’s not too much pressure on each event and I can just keep going along and do my thing. I just need to keep ahead of the game which is what I’ve managed to do since my win in Italy.’’

As the Merseyside native looks to replicate Singh Brar’s victory in Brittany, which helped him secure playing rights on the European Tour for 2019, he will also be able to draw inspiration from another one of his Walker Cup teammates.

Jack Singh-Brar – one of three Hampshire players to have played in the 2017 Walker Cup with Hoylake’s Matthew Jordan – claimed his first pro win in the Open de Bretagne a year ago.
Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

Jordan’s playing partner in the Sunday foursomes in LA, Robert MacIntyre, also graduated onto the European Tour following the 2018 Challenge Tour season.

‘’I played with Robert during the Walker Cup and he’s just come on leaps and bounds. I try to have something on him all the time,’’ he joked.

‘’At the moment I can’t really because he’d just come back to me with his European Tour card and his finish at The Open,” said the Hoylake member who was obviously torn about the prospect of playing in the 47th Walker Cup on his home course.

‘’In all seriousness though, it’s great to see the other guys do well. Jack played great last year, and Connor Syme has been putting in some good results as well.

“It’s a treat to see how everyone else is getting on and of course, it keeps you motivated as well. All the guys out here are good though, so there’s always plenty to keep pushing you to improve.’’

Jordan – who won the Lytham Trophy last year before turning pro in September – is likely to have one eye on proceedings across the Channel when GB&I seek revenge for that defeat by United States at Los Angeles Country Club.

‘’I went over to Royal Liverpool on Monday just to chat with the players and offer any advice if they wanted it,” said Jordan, whose breakthrough win as an amateur came at the home of Justin Rose in the 2016 Hampshire Hog at North Hants GC.

“The Walker Cup was such a great experience for me, so it was good to have a little reminisce and chat with the boys before the event gets started,” said Matthew, who played alongside two other Hampshire players in Scott Gregory, and Harry Ellis, the Amateur Champions in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Meanwhile, at a firm seaside venue that has often produced English winners, Jordan is hoping his links experience will prove useful with strong winds forecast over the next four days.

‘’The course is very firm and with the wind blowing it feels like a links course in many ways,” Jordan revealed.

“I’m used to the wind from playing links golf growing up although that doesn’t necessarily mean I enjoy it.

When it comes to pitching it short of the greens and playing with the terrain that is something I’m very used to, so hopefully that will give me a little edge.’’

The Open de Bretagne begins at 7.10am, with Jordan beginning his first at 12.50pm. For live scoring click here.

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