HONG KONG, 19 December 2003 — Englishman Richard McEvoy stole the limelight from an illustrious field at the $700,000 Hong Kong Open after shooting an opening-round eight-under-par 62 to take a four-shot lead.

McEvoy, who won the European Tour Qualifying School last month, putted brilliantly to collect nine birdies and one bogey and overshadow such big names as Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Ulsterman Darren Clarke at the par-70 Hong Kong Golf Club course.

“I played solid all day and my putting was great. To start my debut year like this is just amazing, “said the 24-year-old McEvoy.

“It is a nice feeling to be in front. I feel very comfortable”

Lying in second place, four shots behind McEvoy, are Scot Steven O’Hara — who also earned his European Tour card by qualifying last month — and India’s Amandeep Johl, who both shot four-under 66s.

“I played with Richard (McEvoy) in the final stage of Tour School, so I know he is pretty confident. It’s good to start strongly and I’m delighted to be in this position,” said O’Hara.

Johl was also a contented man after scoring six birdies and two bogeys.

“I am quite happy with my round. I got a couple of good breaks and made some stupid bogeys — that is part of the game, I suppose,” said Johl.

McEvoy’s string of birdies put to shame the efforts of the big-name players at the opening leg of the 2004 European Tour event which is also the penultimate leg on the Asian PGA Tour this season.

World No. 10 Harrington managed to shoot a three-under 67, a score which was felt reasonable and par for the day, until McEvoy’s hot run late in the day. Clarke, the world number 11, shot 68.

England’s six-time Major winner Nick Faldo scraped to a one-under 69 to lie eight shots behind the leader. China’s Zhang Lian-wei produced a steady round of 67 to stay in contention. Zhang, who is aiming to win the Asian PGA Tour Order of Merit title and thus earn a berth in next year’s British Open, scored three birdies in an error-free round.

The Chinese No 1 is in the company of Harrington, New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, England’s Barry Lane, Thai Prayad Marksaeng, South African Desvonde Botes, Australia’s Kim Felton and Edward Loar of the United States, all of whom are in joint fourth, five shots off the pace.

Lonard Shares Lead After 1st Round of Australia Masters

In Melbourne, defending champion Peter Lonard shared the lead with fellow Australian Marcus Cain yesterday with a six-under 66 in the rain-interrupted first round of the Australian Masters at Melbourne’s Huntingdale Golf Course.

Lonard, who won the tournament last year and in 1997, made five birdies in the first nine holes to reach the turn in 31 and then held on through the closing holes.

“You’ve got to go as hard as you can as early as you can around here,” Lonard said.

“You have to take your chances on the front nine, because the finishing holes have a habit of jumping out and grabbing you.”

Lonard was eight under after 14 before a combination of Huntingdale’s tough closing stretch and a stiff southerly wind brought him back to the field.

He bogeyed the par three 15th and again on the 8th where he three-putted from 20 meters.

Other Aussies on top of the round-one leaderboard included 44-year-old Peter Senior, Robert Allenby and youngsters Geoff Ogilvy and Jarrod Moseley.

Overseas players included Americans Ryan Palmer and Michale Pearson five strokes off the lead at 71, Kris Mikkelsen at 72, Chip Beck one stroke back and Rich Beem nine strokes off the pace with a two-over-par 74.