Golf: Walton leads Smurfit PGA Championship

Philip Walton put in a stroming finish at sunny Castlerock when he carded a two-under-par 71 to snatch the overnight lead in the first round of the £110,000 Smurfit PGA Irish Region Championship.

However, Walton, aiming to win the championship for a fifth time - the last being at Belvoir Park in 1995 - had to survive a bad start as he was three-over-par after only four holes and in the same situation at the turn.