The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland’s, Alex Wrigley, and the PGA of Czech Republic’s, Filip Mruzek, got their campaigns underway today after each carding six-under par 65s to share the lead of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz International Pro-Am in association with Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

The second edition of the Pro-Am at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates got underway after a short delay due to unusually damp conditions for the middle of the desert, but after the rain had cleared it was Wrigley and Mruzek that made headway throughout the day.

England’s Wrigley had a steady start from the 10th hole at the par-71 championship course with one birdie in his first seven holes, but then turned up the heat through the turn with five birdies in seven holes to end with his 65.

“I got it going around the turn,” said Wrigley.  “I think I made three or four birdies in a row and made three really key up-and-downs on seven, eight and nine…so I’m really pleased with my opening round.”

Again opening with a bogey-less round was 2014 Mercedes-Benz International Pro-Am Champion, Filip Mruzek:

“I played a good game…a bogey-free round,” Mruzek explained.  “[I had] no problem from the tee…I missed a few putts, but otherwise it was great golf so it was just a good day.”

Mruzek’s start was forceful with three birdies in the opening five holes, but was more subdued through the turn with only one birdie. This was disrupted at the 17th when a two at the 172-meter par three, followed by a birdie four at 18, gained two more to push to the top of the leaderboard.

One shot back at five-under par are the duo of Garry Houston (PGA of GB&I) and Nicolo Gaggero (PGA of Italy) who both carded 66s that were each only marred by the pair of bogeys they each took.

Houston’s seven birdies were hit by bogeys at holes nine and 14 after six birdies through seven holes at his turn, whilst Gaggero’s excellent closing six holes were interrupted by a bogey at 15.

The Team Pro-Am competition got off to a high-flying start as Houston and amateur teammates, John Bailey, Gary Dewhurst, and Dorian Hopkins, carded 91 points (-19) to sit at three ahead of second place Jonathan Grogan and his team of Patrick Seigmund, Michael Gustke, and Stefan Seifert.

For full Round 1 scores visit http://eur.pe/2015MercInt.  Round 2 begins at 08:00am (GMT+4).

————————-

For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter search the Hashtag ‘#MercIntProAm’, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club visit www.aesgc.ae.