Fletcher burns bright despite fog delay

Connor Fletcher holds a one-stroke clubhouse lead after shooting a seven-under-par 65 in a disrupted first day at the WPT Championship at The Oxfordshire.

A two-hour fog delay means the first round will not be concluded until Thursday morning.

Daniel Aldridge and George Woolgar are one behind with Stiggy Hodgson and Will Roebuck shooting 67s for five under and tied fourth.

Fog delayed the start of the event by 20 minutes but play was halted for a further one hour 35 minutes when the fog came back down at The Oxfordshire.

Fletcher - based at Chart Hills, a sister course of The Oxfordshire – began his round on the tenth tee, but actually played the course in its usual format as the nines have been switched for this week’s tournament.

He was one under at the turn but came home in 30 thanks to an eagle at two and birdies on the third, fourth, sixth and seventh.

“I like the style of the course,” he said after his round. “I like long courses; they suit my game a bit better. Every hole here looks good to me.

“I can hit it a fair distance. My long irons are pretty good, I played some long irons pretty close and holed the putts to get a good score.

“It is my first year as a pro. I have played a few Europro events but haven’t made a cut yet. I didn’t feel like I was playing to seven under, so I want to keep doing what I am doing for the rest of the week.”

Aldridge (www.visitgibraltar.gi) shot an eagle, five birdies and a bogey for his 66 and shares second place with Sweetspot Classic winner Woolgar (Capitalservices) who shot eight birdies but dropped shots on the tenth (his first) and the seventh.

Twenty-seven players will conclude their first round at 7am on Thursday, with the second round commencing as scheduled at 7:30am.

Entry to the 54-hole event is free throughout the week, and Sky Sports HD will film Friday’s final round for a highlights programme to be shown four times on Wednesday, September 11.