The prerequisite for being in contention after Day One of the Nordea Masters? Not be ranked in the Top 200 in the latest world rankings.
After 18 holes of play, Sweden’s Jens Dantorp, ranked 385th in the world, and England’s Eddie Pepperell, ranked 346th, are tied for the lead after firing matching 6-under 66s.
Only one player in the top seven after one round is ranked inside the Top 200 – Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher. Gallacher was one of four players to fire a 5-under 67.
Dantorp shot a bogey free round and knocked in four birdies on the back nine to reach 6-under. Pepperell had three birdies in the last four holes of the front nine, the another four birdies mixed in with a bogey on No. 13.
Gallacher is tied for third along with Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin, ranked 422nd; Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg, ranked 221st; The Netherlands’ Daan Huizing, ranked 216th and local amateur Sebastian Soderberg.
World No. 2 Henrik Stenson, the prohibitive favorite to win the tournament, is tied for 14th at 3-under, three strokes off the lead. Stenson was in contention for the top of the leaderboard until he bogeyed No. 15 and 16 back to back. He rallied to birdie No. 18.
Playing partner Miguel Angel Jimenez, recent winner of the Open de Espana, is also at 3-under
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