The 2023 European Amateur Championship got underway in perfect conditions this morning in Estonia.
The higher-ranked players, who teed off early, took advantage of the calm conditions to go deep into the red numbers at Pärnu Bay Golf Links on a day where over 100 players broke par.
Jose Luis Ballester (ESP) was the first to set the leading mark of -10. The Spaniard made eight birdies and an eagle on his way to a round of 62.
The score equals the course-record, as well as the European Amateur Championship scoring record relative to par.
Three more players also reached double-digits under-par soon afterwards. Jack Ingham (NED), who was seven-under-par on the front-nine, narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 18th to take the outright lead but also signed for a 62 (-10). His playing partner, Alejandro Aguilera (ESP), birdied five of the last six holes to card the same score.
Playing a few groups behind, France’s Paul Beauvy also had the chance to break the course-record down the par-five 18th, but a missed 10 foot birdie putt would lead to the fourth 62 of the day.
Michael Mjaaseth (NOR), the 2019 European Young Masters champion, made eagle on the final hole of the day to shoot 63 (-9), and sits alone in fifth place.
Quentin Debove (FRA), Daniel Rodrigues (POR), Tiger Christensen (GER), James Ashfield (WAL), and Gregor Graham (SCO) all sit within just two shots of the lead after signing for rounds of 64 (-8).
The perfect weather conditions didn't last all day however. Heavy rain and thunder caused a suspension of play for roughly 90 minutes with 13 groups still on the course.
