Recap: Day One at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final

For anyone who missed the first 18 holes of the European Challenge Tour's season finale, here is the best of what happened at Al Mouj Golf as the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final began.

<strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">Jordi starts the week</span></strong>

With the players going out in reverse Rankings order, the last man in the field Jordi Garcia Pinto had the honour of hitting the opening drive of the tournament - the Spaniard finished level par after day one.

<strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">Master of the ceremonies</span></strong>

The Challenge Tour had royal visitors as his excellency Ahmed bin Nasser bin Ahmed Al Marhizi, the Omani minister for tourism, hit a ceremonial tee shot to declare the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final officially open.

<strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">Swede dreams</span></strong>

The early runners had a distinctly Scandinavian feel to them as Oscar Stark, Anton Karlsson and Jens Dantorp all made fast starts. Stark at one stage led on five under par before dropping a couple on his back nine, while Dantorp and Karlsson both signed for four under par rounds of 68.

<strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">Hammer time</span></strong>

An eventful opening eight holes for Road to Oman Number Six Bernd Ritthammer - not a par among them, with six birdies and two bogeys. A slightly more serene back nine took the German to five under par, and just one shot off the first round lead.

<strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">Flying Fox</span></strong>

No pressure this week for last year's heartbreak story Ryan Fox as he has already tied up his European Tour status, and the New Zealander was irresistible for much of today, briefly reaching seven under par before dropping shots coming in. He sits two shots back after round one, level with Rankings leader and playing partner Jordan Smith.

<strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">Bubble boys ignoring the pressure</span></strong>

With 16 players graduating on Saturday, the pressure was significantly increased on Pep Angles, currently occupying the 16th and final spot. The Spaniard responded in style, bogey-free for a six under par 66, which was matched by his playing partner James Heath.

Heath also needs a big week as he is currently sitting in 18th spot, and it could have been even better for the Englishman - a double-bogey on the 17th cost him the outright lead, but he is joint top after day one.

<strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">The perfect birthday present for Pavon</span></strong>

Joining Angles and Heath in the first round lead is Matthieu Pavon, who turned 24 today and celebrated it in style, making seven birdies in front of his mother and girlfriend to also sign for a 66 and put himself well in contention for a maiden Challenge Tour title to go with his already-assured European Tour card.