FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
Surrey-based Italian Riccardo Fantinelli set a searing pace on day one of the England Boys Championship at Bristol & Clifton today.
The Reeds School pupil went bogey free as he opened up a four-shot lead on the field thanks to a stunning 63 (-7) which included seven birdies although he was happy to admit he rode his luck at times.
“I have to say I got quite lucky with a couple of bounces and holed a few long putts,” said the Riccardo, who is a boarder in the UK. “It was tough out there.”
At the head of the chasing pack is the England U-16s champion Harley Smith (The Rayleigh). The Essex youngster once again proved his class to post a 67, a score matched by Scottish talent Daniel Burden, a recent winner at the ProDreamUSA Junior Masters at Pollock.
British Amateur quarter-finalist Calum Scott is one shot further back after a superb finish. He rattled off four threes on the trot to get to two under alongside three English boys – Surrey’s Harley Yates (Burhill), Matthew Dodd-Berry (Royal Liverpool) and Romford’s Henry Styles, who recorded a remarkable 16 pars and two birdies (at the 9th/18th).
There will be a new champion after Kedleston Park’s Henry Hayward failed to finish his round.
After tomorrow’s round the top 60 an ties will make it in to the second half of the 72-hole strokeplay contest.