Darren Clarke shot a four under par 68 in the first round of the $1.2 million Taiheiyo Masters in Gotemba, Japan yesterday to lie just two shots off the lead held jointly by Australia's Peter McWhinney and Japan's Yoshitaka Yamamoto and Yoshinori Mizumaki.

McWhinney, seeking his first win in more than 18 months on the Japan tour, putted brilliantly to sink seven birdies against one bogey on the rain-softened greens of the 7,072-yard Taiheiyo Club Gotemba course.

Yamamoto also made seven birdies and one bogey, while Mizumaki carded a bogey-free round that included six birdies. Former champions Jose Maria Olazabal and Australia's Roger MacKay were in joint second with Stewart Ginn of Australia, and Japan's Naomichi Ozaki and Katsunori Kuwabara after 67s.