TOURNAMENT ROUND-UP:NICK DOUGHERTY got his tactics spot-on yesterday and the result was a 10-under-par 62 that gave him a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Maybank Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.
The Liverpudlian described the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club as a "thinking man's course" and showed he had done his homework on the 6,979-yard Ross Watson-designed layout with 10 birdies in his first 13 holes, briefly raising hopes of the first 59 on the European Tour.
He had to settle for playing his remaining five holes in regulation but even so the 25-year-old was more than happy with his performance.
"I found a way I think is efficient to play the golf course which obviously worked very well today," said Dougherty. "There are times when I hit three wood and even rescue to get in the right spot so I can hit from a better position."
Fellow Englishman Simon Dyson and Australia's Marcus Fraser are tied for second place on eight under after 64s, with Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen, Argentina's Daniel Vancsik, South African Keith Horne and Danny Chia of Malaysia a further shot back.
Graeme McDowell had halves of 33 in a flawless 66, while Peter Lawrie and Darren Clarke are on three-under-par 69. Gary Murphy is on two-under-par 70, Paul McGinley and Damien McGrane on 71, but Rory McIlroy has work to do after a three-over-par 75.
US TOUR:American Bart Bryant birdied two of the last three holes to grab an early one-shot lead in the Tampa Bay Championship first round at Palm Harbour yesterday.
The 45-year-old PGA Tour veteran rolled in a 16-footer on the 18th green to complete a flawless six-under-par 65 on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook GC.
In overcast conditions, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry and Jeff Maggert opened with matching 66s, with Swede Carl Pettersson among a group of three on 67.
Of the other early starters, world number seven Justin Rose returned a 70, ending the day level with twice US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa.
Bryant, who won the last of his three PGA Tour titles at the 2005 Tour Championship, birdied the seventh and eighth to reach the turn in two-under 34.
He picked up further shots at the par-four 10th and par-five 11th before taking early control with his birdie-par-birdie finish.
SENIORS: Ian Woosnam is in contention to land his maiden European Seniors Tour title after a dazzling display on day two of the DGM Barbados Open.
A three-under-par round of 69 helped Woosnam to a halfway total of 141, three shots behind the clubhouse leaders Bob Cameron and Delroy Cambridge.
Denis O'Sullivan shot 70 for 145, while Jimmy Hegarty fired a 71 for 150.
CHALLENGE TOUR:Unerring accuracy off the tee and a hot putter helped Argentina's Daniel Barbetti secure a two-shot lead after day one of the Tusker Kenya Open.
Despite blustery weather at Nairobi's Karen Country Club, Barbetti posted a six-under-par round of 65, which saw him finish the day two shots clear of the Scots Greig Hutcheon and Scott Henderson.
Mark O'Sullivan is best of the Irish on one-over-par 72.
