NEWPORT, Wales – The European Tour debut for Archie Davies was one to remember, as the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year carded a 2-under-par (69) in the opening round of the Cazoo Open in Newport, Wales. Following the opening round, Davies is currently sitting in an eight-way tie for 24th.
 
Davies, who will be a redshirt sophomore this season at ETSU, began the tournament with a bogey on the opening par-4 before carding three consecutive pars. The Carlisle, England, product dropped another stroke on the par-4 5th hole to fall to 2-over-par. Four holes later, Davies posted his first birdie in the European Tour debut after posting a 4 on the par-5 ninth hole to make the turn at 1-over-par (37).
 
The birdie on the ninth hole sparked a run for Davies, who birdied holes No. 11-13 to mark four birdies in a five-hole span. The span of birdies elevated Davies up the leaderboard as he jumped to 2-under-par following his birdie on the par-3 13th hole.
 
The reigning SoCon Freshman of the Year dropped one final shot on hole No. 16 with his final bogey of the round. However, Davies put the mistake aside and ended the round on a high note with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to end his round with a 69 (-2).
 
The England native is currently the low amateur in the field, leading Alex Fitzpatrick (-1), James Ashfield (+4) and Matt Roberts (+11).
 
Davies will tee off in the second round at 3:04 a.m. (ET), teeing off on hole No. 1 alongside Matt Ford and Sean Towndrow.