Orange domination in Spain

Lars Van Meijel of Netherlands confirmed his favorite status taking the lead after opening round in Alps de Las Castillas in Cabanillas Golf. The Dutch fired 65, -7 thanks to 8 birdies and one bogey to surge one shot of fellow countryman Rowin Caron.

A group of three players is two shots behind, Spain’s Marcos Pastor, England’s Liam Harper and former European Tour player, Jérôme Lando Casanova of France. The weather was perfect to shot low and with nearly 50 players under par, the course had some difficulties to defend itself.

A pack of 10 players with only one not from Spain, England’s Benjamin Wheeler, is -4 at 6^th place. Among the nine Spaniards, young gun Lucas Vacarisas, 18, and experimented Carlos Balmaseda, 45.

Van Meijel closest challenger at the Alps Tour ranking, France’s Julien Brun, winner of the first event of the season, shot level par, tie for 49^th. The projected cut is -1.