Day one digest: 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open

Everything you need to know from Thursday's opening round at Aphrodite Hills Resort.

Cyprus became the 50th country to host a European Tour event as the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open got under way on Thursday.

Mitch Waite and Johannes Veerman led the way after the first round thanks to their brilliant 64s, while there were some very experienced players in the large chasing pack.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday's opening round at Aphrodite Hills Resort.

Host course is the star of the show

The European Tour is in Cyprus for the first time this week and the Aphrodite Hills Resort is making quite an impression. The Cabell Robinson-designed course has a few unique features, such as the 18th century kiln on the first fairway and an ancient olive press on the eighth fairway. It is built on two plateaux separated by a dramatic ravine, which the players must clear from the third and seventh tees. Here are some of the best pictures of a spectacular golf course.

Drysdale's Elevated Tee Syndrome

After opening with a brilliant 65, Scot David Drysdale introduced us to "Elevated Tee Syndrome", which is something he suffered from on the third and seventh tees. He said: "I got a little bit of vertigo on the third tee and the seventh tee, it’s weird, I call it ETS – Elevated Tee Syndrome – where you feel like you can’t follow through, you just stay so far back on it because it’s so high up."

It's easy to see what he means...

Mitch didn't have long to Waite for European Tour lead

Englishman Mitch Waite is making just his fourth European Tour appearance this week but his shortage of experience at this level didn't seem to affect him as he charged to the top of the leaderboard early on day one. He was later joined at the top by Johannes Veerman but finished the day in a tie for first place on seven under thanks to a 64 that contained an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys.

Veerman's bunker brilliance

American Veerman made his first birdie of the day in style at the second as he holed this bunker shot to get his round going...

Veerman followed that up with an eagle and four more birdies to grab a share of the first round lead with Waite.

Shinkwin's 18th adventure

Callum Shinkwin sent his tee shot at the last straight into a paper bag containing cans of water. He got a free drop from there but still had some serious work to do...

But he took it all in his stride and went on to make a birdie. Well played Callum.