Philip Walton has stormed in to a share of the lead after the opening round of the Madeira Island Open today. Walton, who only last year lost his playing rights to the main European Tour, is clearly taking advantage of this week’s invitation to the exotic surroundings of Madeira.
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Good start for Walton in Madeira
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Ireland’s 1995 Ryder Cup hero, along with Kalle Brinke of Sweden, England’s John Bickerton and Hank Kuehne from America, share the lead on five-under par after opening rounds of 67.
Bickerton experienced a turn of good fortune by sharing the lead, because only last week the Englishman was forced to withdraw from the Qatar Masters through injury.
Former US champion Kuehne may have taken the outright lead, had he not three putted the par five 16th. The long hitting American will be content with only his second start on the European Tour. He missed the cut at the Qatar Masters last week.
The final member of the leading quartet Brinke, will be hoping to add another Swedish name to the trophy. The Challenge Tour player would become the fifth Swedish winner in the tournament's nine year history.
Tour veteran Des Smyth has made a remarkable start to his opening round. The Drogheda player put together a run of birdies on the third, fourth and fifth, and with another at the sixth, Smyth is currently just one behind the leaders on four-under par.
Paddy Gribben is two shots further back on two-under after carding a two-under 70. The former Walker Cup star is another player who is taking advantage of the weakened field as many of the top names are competing in the Bay Hill Invitational in America this week.
The last Irish player in the field, Gary Murphy, is making steady progress. The Kilkennyman is currently one-under through the sixth.