Mason leads after 65

CARL MASON, the defending champion, showed he is not going to give up the title without a fight when The Mobile Cup got underway in breezy conditions at The Oxfordshire Golf Club.

Mason who lives just 30-minutes away fired a seven-under-par 65 which earned him a three-stroke lead from American Steve Stull, Gery Watine from France, Argentina's Luis Carbonetti and Kent-based Bob Cameron.

Mason, who already has two European Seniors Tour victories to his name this year and heads the Order of Merit with almost £70,000 from four outings, was a morning starter from the 10th tee and was only one under at the turn but his inward stretch was a thing of beauty. An eagle and five birdies were only tarnished by a three-putt bogey at the eighth, otherwise he would have been back in 29.

Following his victory in Ireland two weeks ago, Mason took a week off and his knowledge of the Oxfordshire course certainly benefited him.