2024 MCB Tour Championship Day 1- Highlights

 Greg and Greig lead after opening day of MCB Tour Championship.

England’s Greg Owen and Greig Hutcheon of Scotland shot scintillating 65s to sit at the top of the MCB Tour Championship Mauritius after day one – but European icon Colin Montgomerie is well placed just two shots back.

South Africa’s Keith Horne – the only player in the top seven not from England or Scotland – is one off the lead after a fine 66 at Constance Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius.

Robert Coles, Gary Orr and Van Phillips are tied with Ryder Cup legend Montgomerie on five under at the Legends Tour’s prestigious end-of-season event.

Owen, 17th on the MCB Road to Mauritius order of merit, reached the turn two under after a bogey at the 4th and three birdies but then came home in just 31 strokes thanks to four birdies in five of the closing holes.

Hutcheon, eight on the order of merit, started strongly with three birdies in the first four holes but gave one back to the course at the 9th.

He started his back nine as well as he had the front half, though, by making birdies at the 10th and 12th then carding a wonderful eagle three at the 13th.

Horne, who has enjoyed a fine season on the Legends Tour including a win in Zambia to sit in sixth going into the tournament in Mauritius, had no blemishes on his scorecard and made six bogeys to be right in the hunt.

All eyes will be on Montgomerie, the eight-time European Order of Merit champion, on day two after his fine start.

He made five birdies, including on the risk-reward par-5 18th, to begin his bid to claim the title he won in 2017 in impressive fashion.

Scott Hend – one of only two men who can deny Adilson da Silva the Legends Tour order of merit for 2024 – began with a bogey and dropped two more shots during the round but also made seven bogeys to lie four under.

Jeev Milkha Singh of India, Wales’ Stephen Dodd, and Carl Suneson of Spain are also on that number after 68s.

Da Silva made a birdie at the 4th and added two more at 13 and 15 but a dropped shot at the picturesque par-3 17th meant he was disappointed with his opening 70.

It was however good enough for a share of 20th and means he still has both hands firmly on the John Jacobs Trophy.

He was full of praise for the Legends course at Constance Belle Mare Plage after his round.

“I wasn’t really happy with my game today. I didn’t really feel like I got into it,” said the Brazilian.

“I was trying to get my mind into the task but the more I was trying to get my mind into it the more I was wandering.

“My scoring wasn’t too bad but the scores were good today so I have some ground to make up. You can’t really run after it on this course, you need to be patient. You can’t force it.

“The course is in the best ever condition I have seen it. Absolutely perfect and a great test. Everything is perfect for a tournament and there is no excuses.”

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