Ireland's Christy O'Connor Jnr lived up to his billing as the firm tournament favourite when he fired a two under par 67 to claim a share of the lead after the first round of the Wales Seniors Open at Royal St David's in Harlech yesterday.
The former Ryder Cup star goes into today's second round tied with America's Jay Horton and one ahead of an international quartet that includes the defending champion, Denis Durnian, Japan's Seiji Ebihara, Australia's Noel Ratcliffe and England's Nick Job.
Former British Open and US Open champion, Tony Jacklin, bounced back to form with a level par 69. He shares seventh place with England's John Morgan and America's Steve Stull, the winner of the recent Tobago Plantations Seniors Open.
O'Connor jnr got off to the best possible start when he opened with birdies on his first two holes. He dropped shots at both the par four third and the par three fourth but then got back to two under par with birdies at the seventh and the 10th before closing his round with eight consecutive pars.
"It was tough out there," said the former Senior British Open champion. "I played well but it was all a bit of a struggle."
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Ireland's Alison Coffey, recently selected on the Curtis Cup team, fired three birdies in the first four holes on her way to a one shot lead after the first round of the Women's British Open Mid-Amateur Championship at the Berkshire Golf Club.
Coffey's two under par 70 could have been so much better but for two double-bogey fives at the par three 10th and 13th holes.
Coffey is one clear of Curtis Cup team mate Emma Duggleby and Kerry Smith with Sinead Keane (Curragh) just four off the pace while Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) shot 75.
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