Day one of the 2024 Alps de Andalucia would see Italian Flavio Michetti hit the early lead as the five Irish are spread through the field with two breaking par. Paul McBride and Michael Young lead the Irish charge on one under with Robert Moran sitting one back, on par in Spain.
McBride had an eventful first round with seven birdies on his way around, trading blows with the course all day. A double on the par-4 15th and six singles on his walk having started on the 10th . The Island GC man battled hard today and sits in good shape heading into Thursday.
Tied on -1 with McBride sits Michael Young in just his fifth event on the Alps Tour this season. Young had a battle with the course today too, three birdies and four bogies would culminate with an eagle on his last, the par-5 9th today. Robert Moran lies one further back on par for Wednesday and, but for a 7 on the par-4 16th, could have been better placed than his compatriots.
Marc Boucher sits one-over while Brandon St. John will have work to do to trouble the top-40 on Thursday on +5. Michetti’s six-under sees him sit one clear of Spaniard Ruben Lafuenta Montesa after eagle on the par-5 5th. Montesa ties second spot with France’s Maxime Legros on -5. The top-5 is rounded off with the Spanish duo of amateur, Albert Boneta and Alvaro Hernandez Cabezuela on four under.
St. John is first out on Thursday off the 10th tee in the only of the Irish in the morning swing. Boucher is first out in the afternoon with a 13.33 tee time off the first. At the same time Robert Moran heads off from the 10th tee box. McBride is in match 30, again off the first at 13.55. Michael Young is the last of the Irish off the first on Thursday, all five will look to make moves in the Almeria sun.
Michetti gave his thoughts coming off the 18th after day one: “I played well today from the beginning, I must say, even if I missed a short putt on my 2nd hole of the day and made a bogey on the 4th hole. From the 5th hole onward, I did a little reset and I managed to make a lot of birdies. I was -3 after 9 holes. On the back nine, I kept the same momentum going and was able to end my day at -6. It’s a shame that on hole 6, my ball ended up right next to a palm tree, and I made a bogey. Today was a positive day, my putting was exceptional. I made nearly every putt under 3 meters after missing that putt on hole 2.”
The overnight leader spoke about coming into the week having competed in the Italian Open on home soil last week: “Learned a lot, having the opportunity to play a DP World Tour event is always special. I competed last week during the Italian Open, and I must say my long game improved a lot, but last week was truly a wonderful experience, and I definitely learned a lot.”
The Italian leader heads into day two with a lot of confidence so the Irish in the chasing pack have work to do on Thursday in Andalucia.