Greg Kraft shot a five-underpar 67 to lead after the first round at the $2.2 million Western Open yesterday. Kraft mixed eight birdies with three bogeys to lead US Open champion Lee Janzen, fellow American Joe Durant and Fiji's Vijay Singh by one stroke in demanding conditions at Cog Hill.

Ireland's Richie Coughlan's misery in the US continued after an opening round of five over par 77 and looks unlikely to survive the midway cut.