Canizares Red-Hot in European Tour Event


Spain's Alejandro Canizares fired a 10-under 62 to take the lead in the Trophee Hassan II. The European Tour event, being played for the first time, teed off Thursday at Morocco's Golf du Palais Royal.

The 31-year-old from Madrid posted 11 birdies and a lone bogey for a one-stroke lead over England's Seve Benson, who carded five straight birdies on hole Nos. 6-10 and tacked on four more in his final six holes.

Needless to say, Canizares was pleased with his fast start. "It was one of those days for me, my swing felt great, I started putting well and the putts went in," Canizares told EuropeanTour.com. "It was a lot of fun, when golf is like this it's easy.

"After today the confidence is great but it wasn't there for the last month. After Dubai I started losing a little bit of form but this game is up and down so you can't expect the best all the time. I was lucky that after a couple of sessions with my coach and a putting session with Phil Kenyon this week it's started getting a lot easier so I am very happy to perform well this week.

"I think I played one of the best rounds I've played. I missed a couple of drives and from the fairway I missed one shot that cost me a bogey, but that was about it I think."

Sharing third in the tournament after 65s are Sweden's Magnus A Carlsson and American Conor Arendell, while another stroke back are Brits Tommy Fleetwood and Andy Sullivan and Scotland's Marc Warren.

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014019/leaderboard/index.html.