Markus Habeler carded the low-round of the opening day of the 2024 European Mid-Amateur Championships.
The Austrian, playing in the first men’s group, narrowly missed out on setting a new course-record at Jurmala Golf Club in Latvia despite a heavy rain shower early in the morning on Thursday.
Seven birdies and one bogey, adding up to a 6-under-par 66, tied the lowest official score recorded on the Nicklaus Design layout, and gave Habeler the early lead in the men’s classification.
Of the 97 other players competing in the men’s event, no one else was able to match Habeler’s score. Fellow Austrian, Christopher Dlaska, came the closest. Dlaska got off to a lightning start with a birdie at the first, and eagle at the second and would finish the day on 4-under-par, two behind Habeler.
Antti Pasanen (FIN), Luigi D’amico (ITA) and Lasse Vad (DEN) complete the top-5 on -3, -2 and -1 respectively.
Reigning men’s champion, Michael Thannhäuser (GER), got his title defence off to a steady start with an opening 72 (par) and sits just inside the top-10.
In the ladies’ championship, Pauline Stein (FRA) was the only player to return a red number on day one. The French player carded a one-under-par 71 and holds a one-shot advantage.
Ane Urchegui Garcia, the 2022 ladies’ champion, sits in a strong position on level-par alongside Alexandra Farret (FRA) and Alicia Fajardo Monzon (ESP). The latter started her round with 15 straight-pars before breaking the streak with a bogey on 16, but recovered the shot with a birdie on the difficult par-4 18th.
Ira-Christina Wirth (GER) held the lead for much of the day after going bogey-free with two birdies on the front-nine. Although a costly double-bogey seven on the par-5 17th would drop her back to 5th place.
Defending champion, Alena Oppenheimer (GER) is also in the mix after an opening 75 (+3).
The second of three rounds, also known as ‘moving day’, will be played on Friday with players looking to get themselves in a strong position before Saturday’s final 18-holes. Players lower down the leaderboard will have their eye on the 36-hole cut-lines which will reduce the field to 54 men and 33 ladies (+ ties).