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Lawrie shares Welsh Open lead

31/05/2007

Scotland's Paul Lawrie made a promising opening to the Welsh Open at the Celtic Manor as a four-under 65 took him joint top of the first-round leaderboard.

After dropping a shot on the fourth, Lawrie found his rhythm to pick up five birdies on the remainder of his round.

"It was a pretty good round. I played nicely, played solid, didn't hit many shots off-line and knocked a few putts in which is obviously what you have got to do. There was a lot of showers but it was a good morning," he told Sky Sports.

A host of other players, including Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez, Australian Brett Rumford and countryman Steven O'Hara, all matched the former Open champion's score in wet and windy conditions.

Play was halted several times over the day as the players were forced to sit out a series of storms circling the course.

Several other big names remain in close pursuit with 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell just a shot off the pace alongside local favourite Bradley Dredge.

The New Zealander has been in wretched form recently, but appeared to be recovering his confidence after missing the cut in last week's PGA Championship at Wentworth.

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