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Li and Lagergren tied at the top
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Li and Lagergren tied at the top

Li Haotong shares the lead with Joakim Lagergren after the first round of the 2022 Porsche European Open thanks to his lightning-fast start on Thursday morning.

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Early starter Li opened his first round with three straight birdies before going on to sign for a five-under-par 67 which contained three further birdies and a solitary bogey.

Lagergren, meanwhile, holed his pitch for an eagle at the 15th before closing his round with a bounce-back birdie to join Li at the summit.

Wil Besseling was alone in third on four under after mixing seven birdies with a double bogey and a bogey in his 68.

Last week's winner Victor Perez was in the large group another shot back in a tie for fourth, one stroke ahead of defending champion Marcus Armitage.

China's Li began his round with a birdie from 11 feet at the first before sending his tee-shot at the short second to a similar distance and rolling in the putt.

The 26-year-old's putting masterclass continued at the third as he made it three birdies in a row from around 13 feet.

A run of five straight pars followed before Li got his next birdie - a tap-in at the ninth which took him to the turn in 30 shots.

Another birdie on the 15th was followed by a dropped shot at the next hole but Li got up and down for a birdie at the last to finish the day on five under par.

Li, who shot a brilliant 63 on day two of the Dutch Open last week, was pleased with his day's work.

The two-time DP World Tour winner said: "I think I hit a lot of solid iron shots. My approaches were really good today. I had a lot of birdies on the tough holes as well. 

"I found my rhythm compared to last week.

"I didn’t know (I had a fast start). I just tried to play my golf and my game. I enjoyed it out there.

"It’s a very tough course. It’s super long. A lot of par fives and long par fours. It’s going to be a great test this week."

After seeing his first birdie of the day at the ninth cancelled out by a bogey on the tenth, Lagergren made three birdies in four holes from the 11th to move into contention. 

He then holed his pitch from 102 yards at the 15th for a stunning eagle to join leader Li on five under. 

A bogey on the 17th threatened to keep him off the summit but he made a closing birdie to grab a share of the lead. 

Lagergren said: "I’m very pleased. It’s a really tough course. It’s a long one and you don’t get any roll on the fairways at all. 

"A lot of mid-irons into the greens, so minus five on this course, in any condition is good, but even better today."

Speaking about his eagle, Lagergren said: "I had 95 metres to the pin. My full sand wedge is 99. It was slightly in-to. I hit it 100 per cent. It pitched one past and then spun in."

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