Denmark’s Martin Simonsen shot an excellent 66 to share the lead at the Golf Club de Geneve, in Switzerland, after the first round of the Rolex Trophy. Picture by ROLEX

WILTSHIRE’S Ben Stow, Adrian Meronk, Martin Simonsen recorded six-under par 66S to share the lead at the Rolex Trophy, in Switzerland.

The trio, who all carded bogey-free front nine scores, started quickly on Wednesday morning, and ended the day with a share of the one-stroke lead at the top of the leaderboard at Switzerland’s Golf Club de Genève in this week’s Eurpean Challenge Tour event.

Both Poland’s Meronk and Simonsen, from Denmark, are making their maiden appearances in the exclusive 40-man Rolex Trophy and showed no signs of inexperience following their low rounds.

Stow – the winner of the Brabazon Trophy, awarded at the English Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship, back in 2014 – finished in a share of eighth place 12 months ago.

Last year’s Prague Challenge Open winner – who is attacked to Rushmore Golf Club on the edge of the New Forest, continued his good form on the Geneva course with a round of 66,

The University of Kentucky graduate, who represented England in the Eisenhower Trophy in 2014, included seven birdies and only one bogey.

Dane Simonsen raced out of the blocks with six birdies in his front nine, including three in a row ahead of the turn, and returned to the clubhouse in level par after a bogey and a birdie among seven pars.

“I would’ve taken that score this morning,” said Simonsen. “I was hoping for a little more after the front nine I had when I was six-under par after nine holes, which was nice.

“And I had a good look at the 10th for birdie to get to seven-under, but six-under is good and I’m happy with it.

“I played really well on seven, eight and nine, where I had fairly easy birdies. I lost momentum a little on the back nine.

“I hit a good shot on 11 but miscalculated the wind so it came up short and then I missed a short putt for par.

“It’s always nice being towards the top of the leaderboard, so hopefully I can put together a couple of good rounds and see where we end up.”

Meronk made back-to-back birdies to begin his inaugural round at Golf Club de Genève before carding the first of two eagles at the par five fifth hole.

His only dropped shot of the day came at the 10th, but he responded with a birdie at the 13th and his second eagle at the par five 15th to reach the six-under target.

“It was a very solid day,” said Meronk. “I played really well and I’m very pleased with my game.

“It’s only the first day but it’s a good position to be in. There is still a lot of golf to be played but I’m excited for the next three days.

“They were solid eagles on two of the par fives. I hit two solid shots off the tee, which you need to do around here, and that allowed me to go for the green in two, so I was very happy with those two holes.”

The trio hold a one-shot lead over a group of four players, including Challenge Tour No. 1 and 2 Calum Hill and Antoine Rozner.

The pair sit alongside Spaniard Carlos Pigem and Ricardo Santos, from Portgual, in a tie for fourth after carding 67s.

Simonsen gets the second round under way at 7.30am local time while Stow is off at 8.20am and Meronk at 12.30pm. For live scoring click here.

The post Stow looking to go low in time to convert Rolex Trophy form into his second victory appeared first on Golf North.

CALUM Hill will attempt to join a select number of players to seal their European Tour card at the Rolex Trophy when the action gets under way on Wednesday.

The Scotsman has won twice during the 2019 European Challenge Tour season at the Euram Bank Open and the Made in Denmark Challenge.

The Gleneagles pro will look to claim his third title of the year at Golf Club de Genève and seal immediate promotion to the European Tour via the three-win rule.

Following the success of the ISPS Handa World Invitational last week, where men and women played for equal prize funds, the Rolex Trophy brings another different format as the top 39 ranked players, plus one invite, will play alongside amateurs in the four-day pro-am contest, which finishes on Saturday.

Last year’s champion Kim Koivu was the fourth player to complete the three-win feat in Geneva, clinching his third victory of the year at the event, following in the footsteps of Benjamin Hebert, Kristoffer Broberg and Nacho Elvira, who achieved the same success in 2011, 2012 and 2015, respectively.

“I’ve definitely thought about it,” said Hill. “I’m not just playing to see what happens, I want to play well and get that third win.”

Hill added: “If that happens, then that is the goal achieved, and if not, then I’ll hopefully stay inside the top 15 in the Rankings and get my European Tour card that way.”

Hill, who claimed his first professional win on the Challenge Tour at the Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open 12 months ago, has continued to impress this year, recording two wins, a tied third, and a share of seventh in his last four outings to become the new Challenge Tour No. 1.

The recent upturn in form began on home soil at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, where he carded rounds of 68, 64, 71 and 66 to earn a share of 26th place.

However, it is the work at the beginning of the year which the Scotsman points towards, having reaped the benefits over the past four weeks.

Hill revealed: “I think for most players the aim at the start of the year is to finish as high as possible.

“So if that means being No. 1 then that’s brilliant, but there is still lots of time left in the season but it is nice to be there right now.

“Work that has gone on for the past six months has fallen into place now. I wouldn’t say there are factors or assets that have clicked in my game, I just think I’m playing better golf.”

Antoine Rozner, who Hill overtook in the rankings last week, also has the chance to become the fifth player to win the Rolex Trophy and seal European Tour playing rights at the same time, following his wins at the Challenge de España and Prague Golf Challenge.

The pair will tee off at 12.05pm local time with the Rolex Trophy getting under way at 8:30am on August 21. For live scoring click here.

The post Hill can make it a hat-trick at Rolex Trophy and clock up promotion to European Tour appeared first on Golf North.