Arruti takes narrow advantage

Jesus Maria Arruti fired a round of seven-under 65 to take the lead after one round of the North West of Ireland Open at the Slieve Russell Hotel Golf and Country Club Thursday.

Arruti, who plays at the same club as Jose Maria Olazabal in his native Spain, had five birdies and one eagle to move one shot ahead of Tobias Dier of Germany who posted a round of 66.

The 32-year-old began his flawless round on the 10th and quickly moved to two-under par after back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th before play was delayed for two hours due to lightening.

Arruti was unaffected by the delay and closed out his first nine with a remarkable eagle putt from 70 feet on the par-five 18th. He added three more birdies, including one on his final hole, the ninth, where his eight- iron left him with a nine-foot putt.

"I played very well, very easy," said Arruti. "I hit the driver well, the irons well and only missed one shot on the seventh but made a good up and down.

"I've struggled over the last few weeks in the big tournaments on the Challenge Tour but played with confidence today and that made the difference."

Arruti has advanced to the European Tour twice but on both occasions failed to secure his card. He is currently 24th on the Challenge Tour rankings.

"I've been on the main tour twice but wasn't very confident," he said. "Now I've changed my mental approach, I think my game is good enough for the European Tour," said Arruti.

Dier, who matched the course record at Slieve Russell last year, continued his streak of good play at the course with a bogey-free round of 66.

"I love it here," he said. "You go out there and every shot is clear and I was holing everything today. It might be the smallest event of the year on the European Tour but it is a lovely event and a great course."

Three players finished the first round one shot back of Dier and two shots off the lead. England's Andrew Marshall and the Swedish duo of Stephen Dodd and Mattias Eliasson each carded rounds of 67 to finish at minus-five.

Marshall, who is currently fifth in the Challenge Tour rankings during his rookie campaign, would virtually guarantee his advancement to the 2002 European Tour with a good finish at this event.

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