Grannell leads Europro Tour Championship

Paul Grannell shot his best round of the season to lead the 888poker.com PGA Europro Tour Championship by two strokes at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent.

The 28 year old carded a seven-under-par 65 on the opening day of the final event of the 2013 season, and is trailed by four golfers who share second on five-under.

Simon Lilly (Wellingborough), Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links Golf Club), William Harrold (Sheringham Golf Club) and Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw Golf Club) all shot 67 and Paul Shields (Kirkhill Golf Club) is one shot further back in sixth.

Grannell (Vale Royal Abbey) hit eight birdies on Tuesday, with his only blemish a six on the par-five seventh.

“I like links golf, I have always had good success on links courses, as an amateur you play a lot of links golf,” he said.

“It equals my lowest ever tournament round of golf, and it is my lowest round of the year which is always nice to do, especially in the last tournament.

“I have had top 20s in my last three tournaments and two of those going down the closing holes I have been in contention. If I can carry on the form I have been showing then I would like to think I will have a chance.”

Grannell is currently 22^nd on the 888poker.com PGA Europro Tour Order of Merit and only a win at Prince’s will push him into the all-important top five.

“I am not thinking of any kind of result,” he said. “I am thinking purely of what I have been working on with my coaches. I didn’t know that other guys were at five-under until I finished.

“I will do my best to avoid leaderboards for the rest of the week but it is difficult when you walk past them.”

At the end of each season the top five players on the Order of Merit progress to the Challenge Tour, meaning there is more than just the £15,000 winner’s cheque to play for this week.

George Woolgar (level, T31) leads the Tour rankings, with Daniel Gavins (-2, T14), Oliver Farr (-1, T22), Dave Coupland (level, T31) and Paul McKechnie (-3, T7) completing the current top five. Only Woolgar and Gavins have already secured their playing rights for next season’s Challenge Tour.