Portuguese Open: Defending champion Paul Broadhurst equalled the Le Meridien Penina course record of 64 to take a one-shot lead in the opening round of the Algarve Open de Portugal yesterday.
Broadhurst leads Swedish rookie Christian Nilsson by one after his bogey at the last hole left him with an opening score of seven-under-par 65.
Frenchman Christian Cévaër moved into third place after his opening round of six-under 66, with England's Richard Finch, Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin and Spain's Carl Suneson in a tie for fourth position on five under.
Best of the Irish on day one was Gary Murphy on level-par 72 after a round that included two birdies and two bogeys. Peter Lawrie and Michael Hoey are on one-over-par 73, Damian McGrane and David Higgins are a shot back on 74 while Stephen Browne retired. Lawrie covered the first nine in 34 but dropped three shots in a row from the 11th before a birdie at the last took him home in 39.
Broadhurst, whose victory in this event last year was his first for a decade, put on a wonderful display of putting to surge into the lead, using his putter only 24 times in his opening round.
"I'm normally quite a good putter but I holed a lot of good putts today," said Broadhurst.
"It's the first time I've been under 65 for quite a few years and I thought I could shoot 62, which is my career-lowest score."
Portuguese amateur Joao Pedro Sousa had a hole-in-one at the 192-yard par-three sixth on the way to a seven-over 79.
Afterwards Broadhurst took time out to thank veteran Scottish coach Bob Torrance.
Broadhurst's return to form coincided with a visit to Bob Torrance last week.
"Bob is certainly not into the modern-day swing. He uses Ben Hogan as his case study and that is right for me.
"He is not over technical and it is more about feel. I am no good at trying to put the club in certain places. It has to be flowing and I have to understand what I am doing.
"I have to work with what I have got and as long as I stick to certain guidelines I am okay."
The result was a fine display in good weather, although he was tested at the last. Broadhurst found the sand with his tee shot at the tricky ninth and hit his second to the side of the green.
He then rolled a putt six feet past but kept his nerve to hole the return.
Broadhurst came home in 30 with the highlight a superb eagle three at the fifth.
He said: "I have just set the target of playing under par for the next three days. If I can do that I will be pretty close."
Christian Nilsson looked set to equal the course record as well but the Swede, who came through qualifying school, bogeyed the last.
Meanwhile, a five-man team of sky divers brought play to a halt when they came down on the course. The group took this action after one of their number had to use his reserve parachute.
They decided to follow him in and landed close to where Scott Drummond, David Park and Robert Coles were playing. The rogue member, meanwhile, finished off course but unhurt.
Tournament official Paul Carrigill said: "There was no real hold-up. The players had a look and got on with it. The parachutists were extremely apologetic."
