Promising start for Kiwis golfers

Danny Lee has recorded a superb opening round of six-under (64) at the Greenbrier Classic on the PGA Tour to be sitting in a tie for third.

Lee, who is defending his maiden PGA Tour title after last years event was abandoned, made six birdies in his bogey free round to be right in contention. He lies two shots behind leader, Sebastian Munoz.

After a steady front nine, it was the back nine that lifted Lee up the leaderboard with consecutive birdies on 11 and 12, backed up with superb birdies on both 16 and 17 as well.

As well as the defence of his title being on the line this week there is also the carrot of three spots to the Open Championship at Birkdale for Lee to aim for if he can maintain his good form.

The other kiwis in the field this week Steve Alker and Tim Wilkinson didnt fare as well as Lee, both signing for one over par 71s with Wilkinson suffering a horror finish to his round dropping five shots in his last four holes.

Aucklands Ryan Fox finished with three clutch birdies over his final four holes to race up the leaderboard in the opening round of the Irish Open on the European Tour overnight.

Fox carded a colourful five-under (67) to sit tied for ninth after the opening day at Portstewart Golf Club which included a bogey and even a double-bogey.

Fox sits three shots back from Frenchman Benjamin Hebert and American Daniel Im, who are tied for the lead in the massive US$7,000,000 Rolex Series event.

Fox who teed off late in the day made two birdies in his last three holes to put himself in a great position with an early start tomorrow where he has the chance to climb even higher.

After missing out on qualifying for the Open Championship by one shot last week the Irish Open presents Fox with another opportunity as like the Greenbrier there are three spots on the line for the Open Championship.

Mike Hendry has also opened his account in good fashion after shooting an opening round of four-under at the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational on the Japan Tour.

The current New Zealand Open champion is aiming to find form at the perfect time leading into his debut at The Open Championship in just two weeks at Royal Birkdale.

Hendry made five birdies and one bogey to finish the day four shots off behind leader, Daisuke Kataoka.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Golf NZ