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Begay leads rain-hit Spanish Open

26/04/2007

American Notah Begay heads the field in the Spanish Open after heavy rain held up many of the players on the tournament's opening day.

Begay sneaked back into the clubhouse with a four-under 68 as the light faded quickly at the Centro Nacional de Golf, but nearly half the field have yet to even start their bid for the title.

Irishman Paul McGinley was one of those to successfully dodge the showers and he joined home favourites Carlos Rodiles and Miguel Angel Jimenez in a three-way tie for second place - two shots back.

The round represents a welcome return to form for McGinley who, but for two bogeys on the final two holes, could easily have been sharing the overnight lead.

Still looking for his first top-ten finish of the season, the Ryder Cup stalwart has slipped out of the world's top 100 and will be looking for a healthy finish in the Spanish capital.

Begay's position is also under threat from several players still out on the course with Steven Jeppesen of Sweden and France's Gregory Bourdy both currently matching his score but with seven holes still ahead of them.

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