Golf: Confident Brown bounds into lead in South Korea

New Zealand golfer Mark Brown has streaked into the lead early in the opening round of the Asian and European co-sanctioned Ballantines Championship in South Korea.

The 2008 Johnnie Walker Classic champion was quick out of the blocks on the island of Jeju yesterday as a seven-under-par 65 left him atop the leaderboard with about half the field yet to sign their cards.

Brown had a one-stroke lead over South Korea's Kang Kyung-Nam, with Englishman Robert Dinwiddie on 67 while a group of seven were banked up on 68.

Brown posted an eagle three on the 10th, either side of six birdies, and shelled just one shot when he bogeyed the par-three 14th.

Brown said he was growing more confident in his game after a patchy spell and he enjoyed the Pinx Golf Club course after two cold and windy practice days, but he expected trickier conditions ahead.

"I think [on] this island probably it will blow before the week is out and that will provide a different challenge," he said.

The championship offers a purse of 2.1 million ($4.9 million), and has attracted a quality field, including three-time major winner Ernie Els, of South Africa, and American former world No 1 Fred Couples.

- NZPA