Golf: Early start helps Japanese get in the swing at Canadian Open

HAMILTON - Japanese golfer Hidemichi Tanaka took advantage of favourable early conditions to shoot a four-under 66 for the first-round lead at the Canadian Open in Ontario yesterday.

Charles Howell III and Brad Faxon are among a group of five players tied for second, just one stroke behind the leader.

Kelly Gibson, Glen Day and Tom Byrum are the other three on 67.

One shot behind that group are seven players, including former British Open champion Tom Lehman, who carded 68 over the Hamilton Golf and Country Club course.

Further back are the two New Zealanders in the field. Steven Alker shot a two-over 72 and Grant Waite a 76.

* New Zealand's Michael Campbell traded birdie for birdie with Ernie Els before the South African ended with a share of the lead on the opening day of the European Masters in Switzerland yesterday.

Els finally found some favour with the controversial Crans-sur-Sierre greens to card a six-under 66 and end the first round tied with Robert Karlsson, the defending champion from Sweden.

Five players - Argentina's Eduardo Romero, a two-times former champ, along with Frenchman Marc Farry, Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty, England's Paul Eales and Norway's Henrik Bjornstad - are next best at five-under par.

Campbell, who was 10th in the event last year, managed five birdies, including a six-metre putt on the opening hole, in his round of four-under 67.

It is his first event back in Europe since ending well down the field in last fortnight's NEC Invitational in Ohio.

Talented New Zealander Eddie Lee began his first pro tournament on European soil with a respectable one-over 72, but Stephen Scahill is headed for an early exit after carding an eight-over 79.

Greg Turner was disappointed to have been forced out of the event with a back injury.

* New Zealand finished in a tie for third at the Asia Pacific teams championships in Port Douglas yesterday. They scored a four-over 217 to join Japan on 18-over for the tournament, one shot behind Korea.

Hosts Australia scored an historic third consecutive victory in the biennial contest, finishing even-par on 852 for the tournament after a superb four-under 209 in the final round.

Korea finished on 870 with New Zealand and Japan at 871.

Australian James Nitties was the leading individual with a three-under 281, eight shots clear of Japan's Haruo Fujishima, with a further shot back to Korea's Sea-Wong Sung.

The leading New Zealander was Mathew Holten in a share of fifth on eight-over 292, two shots ahead of Brad Iles and Mark Smith, who were in a share of ninth.

- AGENCIES