Min Woo Lee shares lead at Valderrama
Min Woo Lee in action today – photo Getty Images
Min Woo Lee continued both his fine recent form and his love affair with Real Club Valderrama as he fired an opening 66 to sit in a five-way tie at the top of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters leaderboard.
The Australian, who finished third at last week’s acciona Open de España presented by Madrid, carded an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys in favourable conditions on Thursday morning to get to five under par alongside home favourite Pep Angles, Dane Søren Kjeldsen, Englishman David Horsey and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond.
Lee is no stranger to this week’s tricky host course, having finished in a tie for second behind champion Matt Fitzpatrick in Sotogrande last year.
Kjeldsen closed his bogey-free 66 with a birdie at the 18th, while Janewattananond made six birdies and a single bogey, with England’s Horsey carding seven birdies and a double bogey.
Afternoon starter Angles then made it a five-way tie at the summit after recovering from an early bogey with six birdies.
Recent DS Automobiles Italian Open winner Robert MacIntyre and Spain’s Adrian Otaegui were the leading quintet’s nearest challengers on four under.
“Last week I didn’t have the focus on the last six holes,” said Lee referring to his near miss in Madrid. “But looking at the positives I played wonderful for the first 60 something holes. I love this course, I love the vibes here so just want to keep it going. I feel good about this course.
“The toughness of it (suits me). I have a really good short game around here, something about the grass I guess. Made up and down a few times. It frees up my iron play and long game. Some drives are pretty tough into the wind but if you can get it somewhere in play you can make birdies.”
