Rhys Davies added a local feel to the top of the Wales Open leaderboard by carding a first-round four-under 67.
He moved into joint fourth after round one, just two shots off the leader Chris Wood, from Bristol, with fellow Welshman Bradley Dredge on five-under.
Davies, given a healthy following from the local crowd, played quite a conservative round but didn’t drop a shot and picked up four birdies.
His tee shot on the par-three seventh set up his first birdie of the round before an accurate pitch at the par-five ninth picked up his second shot.
The back nine again began patiently with four pars – his iron play wasn’t precise enough to produce birdie opportunities. Again he missed the green at the 14th but he holed a delicate chip for a three.
Davies decided to play round the dog-leg at the short par-four 15th – both his playing partners tried to drive the green. His wedge left him a 25-foot putt, which he holed.
The only mistake of the day came on the 18th, where he drove right of the fairway from the tee, forcing him to lay up. He could only make a five but carded a solid opening round.
By Alex Winter at the Celtic Manor
