Shadbolt and Lloyd share PDC Open lead

Tom Shadbolt and Darryn Lloyd share the 18-hole lead in the PDC Open after shooting six-under-par 66s in the opening round of the HotelPlanner.com PGA Europro Tour event at Chart Hills Golf Club in Kent.

Four players, including Kerry London Championship winner Darren Wright, are just one behind on five-under while nine golfers are four-under after 18 holes.

With just this and five more events to be played prior to the season-ending Tour Championship, money earned could prove decisive on the Race To Desert Springs, from which the top five at the end of the year earn Challenge Tour cards for 2016.

Shadbolt (Brocket Hall) made seven birdies as well as an eagle for his first round. Starting at the first he was three-under through four holes after breaking par at the first, third and fourth. A birdie at eight cancelled out a bogey at six, but he dropped another shot at the ninth.

Coming home he birdied 10 and 12 and eagled the 14th before a bogey at 15 saw him slip back to five-under. However, a final birdie at the last saw him sign for a 66 on the par-72 course.

South African Lloyd (Stamford Marquees) started his round at the 10th, usually the first at Chart Hills. He was one-under at the turn after birdies at 10 and 18 and a bogey at 17. However, he came home in 31 courtesy of five birdies and four pars to join Shadbolt at the top of the leaderboard.

Wright (Golf at Goodwood) currently sits tied second on the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour money list and another win this season would all-but guarantee his progression to Europe’s second-tier Challenge Tour. He hasn’t finished outside the top 15 yet this season and sits one back after a 67 to open his account at Chart Hills.

He is joined on five-under by George Parker (The London Club), Robbie Busher (Salisbury and South Wilts GC) and Alex Wrigley (Hartlepool Golf Club).

The PDC Open is a 54-hole strokeplay event with a cut to the leading 50 players plus ties to be made after 36 holes. The winner will take home £10,000 from a £50,000 prize fund.

Friday’s final round will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, August 11. Spectator entry is free throughout the event and live scoring can be found at www.europrotour.com.