Irish pair struggle to find form in California

GOLF NEWS: US TOUR: American Rich Beem took advantage of the calm early morning to shoot an opening six-under-par 66 to claim the early lead while Pádraig Harrington and Paul McGinley struggled to find some form in the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at the Pebble Beach Golf Links in California yesterday.

Birdies at his first three holes and two more at the sixth and ninth took Beem out in 31 and a back-nine of 35 saw him lead by one from Bill Lunde, who shot a flawless 67.

Harrington, after starting at the 10th, dropped a shot at the short 11th but reached the turn in level par 36 with a birdie four at the 18th. However, three bogeys in a row from the second and just one birdie at the ninth saw the Dubliner finish on two-over-par 74.

McGinley, birdied the 14th but dropped shots at the 11th, 15th and 17th in a two-over-par first nine. But two birdies at the sixth and ninth left him on level-par 72.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul enjoyed a stellar start to the Maybank Malaysian Open yesterday, carding a 10-under-par 62 to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round.

The 17-year-old fired an eagle and nine birdies against a lone bogey at Saujana Golf Country Club’s Palm Course to edge ahead of playing partner Alexander Noren of Sweden in the €1.8million event, which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.

Former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Liang Wen-chong of China and France’s Jean-Francois Lucquin were tied for third after shooting seven-under 65s while Nick Dougherty finished strongly to join Australia’s Adam Blyth and local favourite Danny China in fifth, a further shot back.

Japanese ace Shingo Katayama and two-time Malaysian Open winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand are in contention on three under 69.

After making the turn in one-over-par 37, Gareth Maybin, hit the birdie trail on the way home for an opening 69.

Peter Lawrie mixed five birdies with five bogeys for a level-par 72, with Damien McGrane one back after a 72 while Gary Murphy included two double bogeys in a disappointing 77.

Noh, last year’s Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, began his round on the back nine with a poor tee shot at the 10th but recovered to sink his first birdie of the day from 45 feet.

Playing partner Noren set the pace for much of the morning after opening with four consecutive birdies and going out in six under.

But Noh kept in touch with the Swede and overhauled him with an eagle at the par-five seventh and his ninth birdie of the day on the eighth.

The lone blemish on the Korean’s round was a bogey on the par-three fifth but the youngster had much to smile about after his magnificent opening effort.

“I didn’t make any mistakes today and I putted really well to post a good score,” said Noh. “The eagle on seven was pretty special but with a 10 under today, every moment was a highlight.”

Noren had nine birdies in his bogey-free 63 and Noh admitted the Swede’s good play was a motivating factor for himself. “I wasn’t thinking of beating him but I just tied to catch him during the round. He pushed me along.”

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR: Tournament favourite Karrie Webb holds a three-shot lead after the opening round of the 2009 Women’s Australian Open at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne.

The defending champion’s quest for a fifth Open title and second in succession got off to the perfect start when she returned a dazzling seven-under-par 66.

Spaniard Tania Elosegui and Lee Chang-Hee of South Korea share second place after shooting 69s.

Laura Davies dropped two shots over the last three holes to finish one-over, while Ireland’s Rebecca Coakley is on four-over-par 77.

Twelve-year-old Melbourne schoolgirl Oh Su-Hyun, the youngest-ever player to compete in the Women’s Australian Open, was going well before dropping four shots in three holes on her back nine to finish with a 79. Fellow 12-year-old Chi Youngmin finished one-shot behind on 80.

SUNSHINE TOUR: It wasn’t the first time he shot 29 for nine holes, but it came in a timely fashion for Michiel Bothma as he led the first round of the Vodacom Championship on eight-under 64 at the Pretoria Country Club.

Five birdies and an eagle took the 35-year-old Pretoria professional to the turn in 29 and he covered the back nine in 35 to lead by two from Charl Coetzee with Louis de Jager, Albert Pistorius and Tjaart van der Walt sharing third place on 67.

Michael Hoey shot a level par 72 which included five bogeys in six holes from the 10th but the Shandon Park man finished with birdies at the 17th and 18th.