Nick Jones will take a one-shot advantage into the final round of the Gosling’s Moongate Tour Championship at Port Royal Golf Course today.

The professional shot an opening round one-over 72 at the Southampton layout yesterday, which included six birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey.

Jones was one under heading to the last hole, where he carded a double bogey, allowing the chasing pack to close the gap.

“I’m proud of the fact that I had six birdies; however, I had four three-putts, one double on the last, but my game feels good,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“At high-level golf, you can’t have those mistakes, but the game feels good. We might get a little bit of rain, but I like some bad weather, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Tied for second, a shot back, are professionals Andrew Trott-Francis and Dwayne Pearman, along with amateur and defending champion Oliver Betschart, who was pleased with his round.

“It was steady golf; I made sure I focused on staying in the moment and kept myself in the game now going into the second round,” Betschart said. “Still a lot of golf to play, and I look forward to it.”

The teenage golf prodigy will tee off in the final group today alongside leader Jones and Trott-Francis.

Tour co-founder Trott-Francis was particularly delighted with his fabulous round after carding a career-low 73, which included five birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey.

“Today’s round was extremely well; I shot my personal best,” he said.

“I made a few putts that helped my round to continue, and those long putts were for birdie, and I made par where I needed to. I had one double out there that kind of came out of nothing, but I didn’t really make any big mistakes.

“I managed myself pretty well on the golf course and was able to keep my score very low. I made five birdies that definitely helped my score look as good as it does, and I am very pleased with the way that I played. My ball striking was good, but I made the putts that really helped me to stabilise my round and finish with a decent result.”

The championship remains wide open with 18 holes remaining, with professionals Arriek Douglas, Camiko Smith and Quinton Sherlock Jr and amateurs Kenny Leseur and Jevon Roberts all within five shots of the leader.

“I hit the ball pretty decent but caught a flyer on eleven, hit it over the green, and ended up making double,” said Leseur, who is tied for fifth with Douglas at three over. “But other than that, I could not make any putts on the green, and that ultimately stopped me from improving my score.”

The highlight of Roberts’ round was an eagle at the seventh green.

“Overall, pretty pleased with how I played outside of a couple of loose holes,” said Roberts, who sits alone in ninth at six over.