Fasth leads in Madeira

Sweden’s Niclas Fasth, Golf Clubs runner-up in the European Tour Qualifying School Finals last year, set the Titleist ap2 710 forged irons And Titleist ap2 irons early pace with an opening 66, six under par, to lead the Madeira Island Open at Santo da Serra.

The 27-year-old fired a flawless round in which he twice chipped in for birdie to move two clear of New Zealand’s Elliott Boult, another Qualifying School graduate, Frenchman Nicholas Marin, and Ping i15 irons Swede Henrik Stenson.

Fasth has twice finished runner-up on the European Tour and won the 1996 Qualifying School Finals but is still searching for his maiden title and the victory he is sure will come sooner or later.

“I’m definitely going after this tournament as I would any other tournament,” he said. “I’ve finished second twice but not had many top five’s. I’ve given myself a Callaway big bertha irons few years to develop my swing and now feel ready. It could be this week. I’m going to win. I will definitely win…. Whenever.

“I’ve had a problem on the greens this year but I feel as I am putting well now.”