Spanish Open:England's Nick Dougherty grabbed a share of the lead at the Spanish Open in Madrid today, where he's tied with France's Gregory Bourdy and his compatriot Stuart Little.
Dougherty should have been playing in a three-ball with Swede Peter Hedblom and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara, but the former pulled out before the start citing a bad back and then Lara quit after 10 holes with ankle trouble.
The 24-year-old from Liverpool was left playing on his own for the remainder of his opening round, but was told by officials the draw would be rejigged to give him some company for the second round that followed almost immediately afterwards.
Dougherty, forced into the prospect of 36 holes in the day by yesterday's rain hold-ups, reached the turn in a four under par and when he lipped out for eagle at the long 10th he moved alongside Bourdy, who had completed a 67 earlier in the day, and English left-hander Little.
"Peter told me he'd been suffering with his back for a week or two and then on the first hole Jose Manuel said his ankle was causing him a problem," commented Dougherty.
Little, from Devon, did not know he was playing until just before the start when compatriot Anthony Wall withdrew because of ill health.
Struggling for chances this season after losing his European Tour card by finishing a lowly 150th on last year's Order of Merit, Little turned in 35 and then birdied four of the next six.
One stroke behind were English pair Graeme Storm and Richard Bland, Scot Alastair Forsyth, American Notah Begay and Spanish duo Luis Claverie and amateur Inigo Urquizu.
At the start of the day Kenneth Ferrie discovered he had done the right thing by getting up early rather than staying in bed.
The former European Open champion had had a chance to finish his opening round last night, but decided to take his time and instead resume at 8.30 this morning.
It paid off when he hit a nine-iron to 15 feet and holed the putt on his first hole, the 442-yard eighth, then parred the next for a three under par 69 that left him only two off the pace.
Ferrie, whose last round was an 83 that sent him tumbling out of his Masters debut at Augusta three weeks ago, had been two over after seven holes yesterday, so it represented a fine comeback.
Like Ferrie, Scotland's Stephen Gallacher had two holes to complete when he set off again, but he bogeyed them both to fall back to one under.
Ryder Cup pair Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke, round in 70 and 75 respectively yesterday, were not due to start their second rounds until late in the day and there was no chance of the halfway cut being decided before tomorrow.
