Wonderful Watts leads Walk in my Shoes Open

James Watts shot six birdies on his first eight holes to lead the Walk in my Shoes Open by two strokes on six-under-par in the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour at Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Country Club in Co. Carlow, Ireland.

The Englishman won his first event on Europe’s leading development tour at Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh two weeks ago and currently lies fifth on the Order of Merit. The top five at the end of the season earn a Challenge Tour card for 2015, and a strong finish in Ireland this week would strengthen Watts’ position.

His pars on one and six were the only two of the first eight holes he didn’t birdie, and his level-par back nine ensured he signed for a six-under-par 66 and take a two stroke lead into Thursday’s second round.

Sam Connor and Stuart Archibald share second on four under while Steve Uzzell, last week’s winner of the Kingspan Concra Wood Open, and David Booth, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, are tied fourth on three under par.

“I was six under through eight and had a good chance on 11,” said leader Watts. “I missed that chance but parred in and had a few more chances which didn’t drop.

“I got the putter going. I hit it the same all day but the ones on the front nine dropped and those on the back didn’t. There are lots of slopes on those greens, the course is good and if you can get the putter going you can do well.

“It is the same every week, you need to go out there and concentrate on what you are supposed to do and see what happens. I relaxed a bit more today than I did last week and it happened for me.”

The Walk In My Shoes Open concludes on Friday, August 1. Spectator entry is free throughout the event and the final round will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, August 12.