Golf: Brown fires in Portugal

Mark Brown. Photo / John Borren

New Zealand pro golfer Mark Brown shot a four-under 68 in the opening round of the Portugal Masters to be in a share of 32nd place at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course in Vilamoura today.

The former New Zealand No 1 is four shots behind leader South African Ryan Kingston, who carded an eight-under 64 at the European Tour event.

The Johnnie Walker champion of 2008, who is currently 154th on the Race to Dubai standings, made six birdies and a double bogey as he fights for his European Tour card.

The top 115 players from the season standings keep their European Tour status for next year.

Meanwhike, on the Nationwide Tour, Tim Wilkinson shot a three-under 68 at the Miccosukee Championship in Florida to be tied for 23rd.

The Manawatu pro, who is 66th on the Nationwide Tour standings, had a bogey-free round but his dream of returning to the PGA Tour in 2012 seems to be fading fast.

With only one event remaining after this week in Florida before the Tour Championship, Wilkinson would need to win in the next two weeks to qualify.

The same can be said for fellow Kiwis Brad Iles and Josh Geary who are out of striking distance as they try to claim one of the top 25 places to secure their place on the PGA Tour.

Iles, who is currently 105th on the money list, had a two-under 69 to be tied for 38th and Geary, who is 65th on the Nationwide Order of Merit, had a two-over 73 to be off the pace in a share of 120th.