Geary, Brown and Muir start well at Fiji International

GOOD START: Josh Geary shot two-under 70 in the opening round at the Fiji International in Natadola Bay today. PHOTO:FILE

Tauranga-based pros Josh Geary, Mark Brown and Kieran Muir are reasonably placed after the opening round of the 2016 Fiji International held in ideal conditions at the stunning Natadola Bay Championship course today.

Geary and Brown shot two-under rounds of 70 in the tournament co-sanctioned with the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Geary posted four birdies and two bogeys while Brown was set for an even better round until calamity struck on his final 9th hole when he suffered a double bogey.

Geary and Brown share two-under with triple Major winner and Fijian hero Vijay Singh, a shot behind two of the tournament's star attractions in Americans Boo Weekley and Brandt Snedeker, who is fresh from helping the USA win the Ryder Cup.

It was a bizarre 18 holes for Omokoroa golfer Muir.

His final score of one-over 73 was helped by a superb finish of three consecutive birdies as the typical late afternoon thunderstorms rolled in across Natadola Bay.

Muir's round also included an eagle on the par-5 17th, three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey on the par-four 18th.

Brad Shilton is the best of the Kiwis after a solid three-under 69.

Anthony Houston leads on seven-under after a brilliant 65 - equalling New Zealander David Smail's course record - with fellow Australians Stephen Leaney and Jake Higginbottom a shot back after shooting six-under 66.

* Peter White travelled to Fiji courtesy of Fiji Airways.