Barcelona, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Trevor Fisher, Jr. fired a 7-under 65 Thursday to grab a 1-shot lead after the opening round of the Open de Espana.
Fisher claimed his first tour win in March at the Africa Open.
Tommy Fleetwood, who is ranked 54th in the world, opened with a 66 at Real Club de Golf El Prat. He was joined in second place by Eduardo de la Riva and Darren Fichardt.
Mark Tullo and Matt Ford are tied for fifth at minus-5, while Soren Hansen, John Parry, Adrian Otaegui and Edouard Espana share seventh at 4-under 68.
Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez managed an even-par 72, while 2002 winner Sergio Garcia struggled to a 3-over 75. Garcia carded three birdies and six bogeys in his round.
Fisher got off to a quick start with birdies at 10 and 12. He ran off five straight pars from the 13th, before making the turn at 3-under after sinking a birdie at the par-5 18th.
The South African gave that stroke right back as he bogeyed the first. Fisher quickly erased that mistake with a birdie on No. 2. He followed with another birdie at the third to move to minus-4.
Fisher parred the fourth, then reeled off three consecutive birdies from the fifth to soar to 7-under. He capped his round with a pair of pars.
"I hit one or two loose shots, but felt I kept the momentum going, which is key to any good round of golf. I sank one or two good putts for par and overall putted really well today, which helped," Fisher said. "It's nice to be out here. I can play a full schedule now which is good. Hopefully, we can put a few more good rounds together."
Fleetwood, who played alongside Jimenez, started with four pars in a row from the 10th. He traded a birdie for a bogey from the 14th. After two more pars, he made eagle at the 18th to make the turn at 2-under.
The Englishman birdied the second and fourth. Fleetwood converted his second eagle of the day at the sixth to jump into second place. He parred the last two to end there.
De la Riva flew out of the gate with an eagle on the 10th followed by birdies at 11 and 12. He cooled off as he carded seven pars in a row from the 13th. Birdies at two and four moved the Spaniard into a share of second. De la Riva parred his final five holes to close out a bogey-free round.
"It's my best score in a tournament here," said de la Riva, who is a member at Real Club de Golf El Prat. "I had a great start. I hit a good drive, a safe second shot and I knew the third was perfect from the moment I hit it. Holing out for an eagle is a big boost, and then I kept it going. It has been a great day of golf."
Fichardt faltered to a bogey at the 12th. He moved to 1-under with birdies at 15 and 16. After an eagle on 18, Fichardt birdied one and two to move to 5- under. He ran off five pars in a row from the third before posting his final birdie of the day at the eighth.
NOTES: Fisher owned the first-round lead for the third time on the European Tour ... He tied for fourth and 10th the previous two times he was in that position ... Fleetwood needs to stay in the top-60 in the world after next week's BMW PGA Championship in order to qualify for the U.S. Open.
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