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Pablo Martin breaks course record to lead Portuguese Open

03/04/2008

Defending champion Pablo Martin fired a superb course record eight-under-par 63 to take the lead at the Portuguese Open at Oitavos Dunes.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, who became the first amateur to win a European Tour event at the same tournament last year, shares the first-round lead with France's Gregory Bourdy.

"It's nice to start the tournament this way," said Martin.

"I like this place. I missed a couple of par-five fairways with the driver, but I hit it well today and didn't make too many mistakes and that's probably the key.

"There is no extra pressure defending the title. I feel confident with my game, but it doesn't matter if I've won before I've still got to win it again."

Earlier in the day, Spanish pair Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Jose Manuel Lara, and Sweden's Michael Jonzon all equalled the previous course record of 64, but all had to settle for a share of third place thanks to Martin and Bourdy's heroics.

Irishman Darren Clarke will be kicking himself that he is not closer to the top of the leaderboard.

Clarke hit a remarkable six birdies in the first nine holes, but a disappointed second half of the round saw him drop to three under par.

"My game is fine, but I'm wasting shots - any momentum I am getting I am giving back," said a rueful Clarke.

Englishman Simon Khan had a solid round and is well placed at six under par. He is joined on the same score by Scotland's Alastair Forsyth.