Golf: Low scoring marks start to NZ Open

Clear skies and a cooling breeze greeted grateful golfers as low scoring marked the early action when the New Zealand Open began at Gulf Harbour Country Club north of Auckland today.

The players made the most of helpful conditions on the coastal par-72 course, none more so than Australian Steven Bowditch, who began his campaign in the $1.5 million tournament by posting an eight-under-par 64.

He was just one shot outside the course record, set in 1998 by American Scott Verplank.

Bowditch lapped up the benign conditions, going out in five-under 31 and coming home in 33 despite two bogeys.

Red figures littered the leaderboard, with Swede Chris Hanell among one of the first to dip well under par, his round of 65 containing a solitary bogey on the par-four ninth.

Hanell was joined on 65 by an illustrious compatriot, Ryder Cup player Niclas Fasth, whose only blemish was a dropped shot on his penultimate hole.

Welshman Garry Houston found 13 of 14 fairways to be in the clubhouse with a round of 66, including three bogeys, while Paul Sheehan, of Australia, managed a 67.

Irishman Peter Lawrie shot 68, including an eagle three on the 475m sixth hole, as did Australia's Craig Parry, the winner of the Heineken Classic in Melbourne last Sunday, whose round today was highlighted by an eagle two on the 366m 10th hole.

English pair Phillip Archer and John Bickerton posted matching 69s, a score also carded by Auckland-based Australian Peter Fowler, his fellow countrymen Wayne Perske and Terry Price, the 2004 Open champion, and New Zealander Mahal Pearce.

Australian Scott Draper shot 71 while New Zealand's Sam Malcolmson posted 71.

The later starters this afternoon include 1999 British Open champion Paul Lawrie, of Scotland, New Zealand's Michael Campbell and David Smail, Australians Peter O'Malley, Peter Senior and Jarrod Lyle, Italian Costantino Rocca and Swede Peter Gustafsson.

- NZPA