Gonnet’s gone low at Panoramica

Jean-Baptiste Gonnet placed himself in a controlling position after day one of the European Tour Qualifying School Second Stage at Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort with a swashbuckling eight under par round of 64.

The Frenchman, who finished 108th in the Challenge Tour rankings this season, produced some of his best golf of the year to rattle in seven birdies and an eagle around the Spanish venue.

He lies one stroke clear of compatriot Joël Stalter and Englishman Tom Murray. All three had similar looking cards; the former racked up six birdies and an eagle on the way to carding his 65, while the latter also enjoyed an eagle and had the same amount of birdies as Gonnet, but one bogey more.

All three will feel confident of progression to the next and Final Qualifying Stage as they head into the weekend with that all important first round under their belts.

The number of qualifying spots available to the Final Stage will be announced once the Challenge Tour Grand Final has concluded and the Challenge Tour rankings are finalised for the season.

The Final Stage – which returns to European Tour Destination, PGA Catalunya Resort - will ultimately allocate the 25 European Tour cards that are on offer for Qualifying School hopefuls.