Lawrie storms into lead in Morocco

Golf:Peter Lawrie stormed through the field on the opening day of the €1.5 million Trophée Hassan II in Agadir, Morocco and by day's end held a healthy three-shot lead after an impressive eight under par 64.

As one of the late starters who set off from the 10th tee, Lawrie fired out of the blocks with an eagle three at the par five on the Golf du Palais Royal course. From there the Dubliner recorded five pars before back-to-back birdies at the 16th and 17th gave him an outward half of 32.

The fun didn't stop there, for although Lawrie dropped his only shot of the day at the third, his 12th, a second eagle and three further birdies were recorded on his card, which was just one stroke outside the course record.

The 37-year-old began his inward half with a birdie and for the second time reduced one of the par fives (fifth) to an eagle three. The leader quickly followed up with birdies from three and 12 feet at the seventh and eighth respectively before signing off with a par.

“I got off to a great start with an eagle at the tenth hole – my first - I holed out from about 25 feet,” said Lawrie, whose only previous European Tour win came in Spain three years ago.

“After that I played lovely, gave myself lots of chances and made one stupid bogey where I missed the green left on the third and didn’t get up and down.

“I then missed a very short birdie putt on the next, but apart from that it was lovely.”

At eight under, Lawrie holds a three-shot overnight lead from England's John Bickerton (66 on the Golf de L’Océan course), defending champion Rhys Davies and India's Shiv Kapur, who both shot 67 on the same layout as Lawrie.

Davies, who drove captain Colin Montgomerie's buggie during the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in his native Wales last October, secured his maiden tour win in Morocco 12 months ago in his rookie season.

“I played well today (Thursday),” said Davies, who has been unable to record a single top 20 finish this season. “I hit the ball a lot better than I have been lately and I was able to put the ball in the right position on the greens which is important out there, and I was able to roll some putts in at key moments.”

"Sometimes you just have to wait your time and hopefully I can put another good score together tomorrow (Friday)."

The heat was an obvious factor on the opening day but Lawrie said it had a positive effect on his game.

“I think this heat actually worked in my favour as I was so busy thinking about hydrating myself it took my mind off the game,” added Lawrie. “I just hit it and walked after it, hit it and walked after it, and just kept thinking about drinking water.

“I think we got very lucky with the draw to be honest as the wind also calmed down.”

“I’ve been playing okay this season, but just had a very slow start. I played the first four and the Middle East and had no great results there, then played Sicily and did okay, and took last week off. So coming out here I’m not in any real great form but it’s nice to start off with a 64, that’s for sure.”

Darren Clarke was next best of the Irish after making a steady start with his opening two under 69 (Golf de L’Océan), which contained three birdies and just the one dropped shot at the eighth.

Damien McGrane ended the day on one under to be one stroke ahead of Paul McGinley and Michael Hoey on level par after the trio played the Golf de L’Océan course.

Shane Lowry had reached the turn level par on the same course but his round completely unravelled with a horrendous back nine. Five bogeys and two sevens - a double and a triple bogey - all added up to an inward half of 45 for a 10 over 81.

New Zealander Michael Campbell, an unfamiliar name at the top of leaderboard in recent years, enjoyed a good day on the Golf du Palais Royal course after a three under 68 left 2005 US Open winner just outside the top 10.

Campbell was on the same mark as recent Silician Open winner Raphael Jacquelin.