Golf: Birdies flow as Perks hits peak form on day to savour

Craig Perks was the standout performer on a day when New Zealanders showed their form around the world.

In Grand Blanc, Michigan, Perks shared second place in the $7 million Buick Open, a shot behind leader American Mike Sposa. Perks shot a six-under 66 and was joined by Americans Carl Paulson and David Sutherland, and Australian Paul Gow.

Colleagues Grant Waite (68), Steven Alker (71) and Phil Tataurangi (72) were also in the hunt.

Tataurangi had been sidelined for the past three months after surgery on his back.

US Open winner Jim Furyk and British Open champion Ben Curtis led a group of 12 players on four-under 68, while world No 1 and defending champion Tiger Woods carded a 69.

Perks, starting on the 10th, went out in a superb six-under 30, with birdies on the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th, and came home in par 36.

He had only 29 putts and his average driving distance was 278.8m.

In Malmo, Sweden, Michael Campbell found himself upstaged by Stephen Scahill and Greg Turner on the opening day of the Scandinavian Masters.

Scahill holed a superb 5m putt at the last hole on the Barseback course to finish in a share of third place, at four under, and only a stroke from the lead.

Scotland's Andrew Coltart and the England pair of David Gilford and Nick Dougherty head the €1.9 million ($3.68 million) field at five under.

Turner carded a par 69 and Campbell, in his first round after winning last week's Irish Open, signed for a 70.

Scahill began his round in superb manner, birdieing six of the first nine holes, and found himself leading the event, before dropping shots at the 15th and 17th holes.

However, the 33-year-old then missed the green at the last but chipped over a greenside bunker before watching in delight as his par putt rolled in.

"It was very important to make that putt because the round was starting to get a bit untidy," Scahill said.

Unlike past years, Scahill arrived in Sweden 61st on the Order of Merit and assured of retaining his playing card for next year, thus avoiding a trip to the Tour's Qualifying School.

"Finishing third in May's Benson and Hedges International Open was a big boost to retaining my card, and I want to prove to myself that the finish there was not a fluke and contend for tournaments out here," he said.

Campbell started from the 10th and was soon in the red when he holed a 4m putt for birdie at his first before proceeding to bogey his fifth, birdie the seventh and then drop a further shot at the second hole, or his 11th.

The six-times European Tour winner then jumped to three-under when he holed birdie putts of 12m at his 12th, 6m at the next and then hit a lob wedge to a metre for birdie at his 14th.

But he ended the round with scores of bogey, birdie and bogey before a par at the last.

"I had a number of tired swings, but two under is a good enough start. It is always difficult to get back to shooting under par, a week after winning."



* In Lytham St Annes, New Zealander Lynnette Brooky was three strokes off the pace after the opening round of the women's British Open.

Defending champion Australian Karrie Webb captured a share of the lead with a five-under 67, with Swede Annika Sorenstam just a stroke behind.

Webb, who has won the event three times, was tied with American Wendy Ward, a first-time visitor to the tricky Lytham links, whose 67 had six birdies.

New Zealanders Marnie McGuire and Gina Scott carded 72 and 73 respectively.

- AGENCIES