Russian Open 2015: Leaderboard Scores and Highlights from Thursday

Scott Jamieson and Daniel Gaunt topped the leaderboard with six-under rounds of 65 at the close of play on Thursday in the 2015 Russian Open.

Lee Slattery and Bradley Dredge sit just one shot behind the pair with five-under after the opening day.

Meanwhile, no less than eight players shot four-under from their first 18 holes, including last year's winner David Horsey. Michael Hoey, who won in 2013, was far from his best but nevertheless remains on a par 71.

Here is the leaderboard from Thursday's action in Moscow:

Rank	Player	Score
T1	Scott Jamieson	-6
T1	Daniel Gaunt	-6
T2	Lee Slattery	-5
T2	Bradley Dredge	-5
T4	Panuphol Pittayarat	-4
T4	Thitiphun Chuayprakong	-4
T4	Keith Horne	-4
T4	David Horsey	-4
T4	Craig Lee	-4
T4	Tom Murray	-4
T4	Ben Evans	-4
T4	Sam Hutsby	-4

Jamieson began his round from the 10th hole and got off to a solid start as he birdied his opener and picked up another shot at the 13th in an otherwise unspectacular front nine.

The 31-year-old showed remarkable consistency as he managed par at every other hole, but it wasn't until he reached hole one that he really exploded into life.

The world No. 346 enjoyed a phenomenal start to his back nine, carding four consecutive birdies to take him into the lead, per the European Tour's official Twitter feed:

Jamieson was unable to add more in his final five holes, but his flawless score of six-under was enough to set the early pace at Skolkovo before Gaunt joined him at the top.

The Scot explained his strategy for the tournament, per the European Tour website:

"

It’s probably a typical [Jack] Nicklaus course, there’s a bit of room off the tee but you have to be really careful with your approach shots to the greens.

If you get slightly out of position it can get really tough so I’m trying to follow Jack’s philosophy of middle of the green and take it from there. 

I feel you have to play away from the flags sometimes, that’s the way to approach it, but it’s quite an unnatural thing to do.

"

His aim to keep his approach shots simple and target the middle of the green is likely what allowed him to record his unblemished round.

Gaunt's six-under was more of a rollercoaster ride than Jamieson's almost metronomic consistency.

The Australian hit birdies at the second, third and fifth holes in a strong front nine, and he picked up a fourth shot at the 11th.

Per European Tour, Gaunt then equalled Jamieson's lead with an exquisite chip for an eagle at the 12th:

An unfortunate double-bogey at the 15th cancelled out his spectacular effort, but the 36-year-old showed remarkable resilience and bounced back immediately with birdies at 16th and 18th to ensure he held a share of the lead.

A bogey at the 15th was Slattery's only error in an otherwise excellent round.

Like Jamieson, he began at the 10th. The Englishman began with five straight pars but responded to dropping a shot magnificently as he hit six birdies from his remaining 12 holes.

Max Kieffer's round of three-under was bookended by bogeys at the first, 16th and 18th, but the German's six birdies in between ensured he was not too far off the lead. His final birdie at the 13th was particularly notable according to the European Tour:

As for 2014 champion Horsey, the Englishman began well as he picked up three shots on his front nine, but a mixed back nine saw him card two bogeys and three birdies.

Nevertheless, Horsey was pleased with his round. According to the European Tour website, he said:

"

I played nicely out there. I drove it pretty well, which is pretty easy to do around here, it’s pretty much a second shot golf course where you have to get your approaches in close.

You can also short-sight yourself and make some silly mistakes but fortunately I only managed to do that once today, I left myself with a tough up and down on the second but all in all I’m pleased with the start.

"

The 30-year-old remains firmly in contention to defend his title, and having won the Open before, his experience will likely see him maintain a place in the upper echelons of the leaderboard into the weekend.

Jamieson, Slattery and Gaunt were all impressive on Thursday, but it's still early days, so expect them to face stiff competition from the likes of Hoey and Kieffer over the coming rounds.