Golf: Jones takes early lead in NZ Open

1.00pm

Australian Craig Jones entered the clubhouse as the early first-round leader at the New Zealand Open golf championship here today.

Jones, the 1994 New Zealand Open champion, shot a six-under-par 66 at the Auckland Golf Club's Middlemore course to set the pace after fine morning conditions.

His only blemish was a double bogey six at the 14th when confronted with an impossible lie in a greenside bunker after his approach from fairway rough fell short of its intended target.

The Queenslander, 33, who has qualified for his first season on the Japanese Tour this year, was delighted with his start, saying his game "has a fair bit of rust in it" following the Christmas break.

"To be perfectly honest at the start of the day I would have settled for an even-par round."

Jones was two shots clear of his nearest clubhouse challengers, with American-based Auckland amateur Brad Heaven and Canterbury professional Carl Brooking posting 68s.

Heaven, 22, had a late stumble when he double bogeyed the par-three seventh, his 17th hole after he started at the ninth.

Scotsman Craig Lee, Australians Marcus Fraser and Martin Doyle, and Matthew Lane, of New Zealand, all carded 70s.

Jones' compatriot Chris Downes came in with a 67 while New Zealand's world No 22 Michael Campbell carded a 69 that promised to be better.

Five-under after 10 holes, Campbell cast away two shots on his closing holes, with a poor swing off the tee on the sixth leading to a double bogey six.

Australasian PGA Tour chairman Wayne Grady almost kept up with his fellow Australians with a four-under 68 showing there's still life in his 45-year-old legs.

- NZPA