Sergio Garcia trails Eddie Pepperell by one after first day of Spanish Open

GIRONA, Spain – Eddie Pepperell of England shot a 4-under 68 for a one-shot lead after the first round of the Spanish Open on Thursday. 

 

Spanish players Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez were among eight chasing Pepperell at the PGA Catalunya Resort golf course. 

 

Garcia, coming off a third-place finish at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, shrugged off jet lag to put himself in contention for his second Spanish Open title – 12 years after his first. 

 

"The course is tough and the fairways are some of the tightest we have played all year," Garcia said 

 

A further eight players trailed Pepperell by two strokes, including former British Open champion Paul Lawrie, who is playing for the first time since January because of back and neck problems.