Duo claim first-round lead

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Mark Brown continued their fine form to take an early one-shot lead at the Ballantine’s Championship at the Pinx Golf Club on Jeju Island today.

Spaniard Fernando-Castano and New Zealand’s Brown were second and third respectively last week in the European Tour event in Beijing, and the pair opened the co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour tournament in Korea with seven-under scores of 65.

Both players took advantage of a generous par-five 10th where no fewer than 11 players picked up an eagle today.

For Brown that was the first hole of the day – a great start that was followed by a bogey at the 14th and back-to-back birdies at holes 16 and 17.

Two more consecutive birdies followed at the first and second holes and further shots were picked up at the seventh and ninth.

“I didn’t play here last year, so it’s my first real look at it. But I just played nice and steady,” Brown said.

“The last two or three tournaments I’ve started to play a little bit better and get my confidence up a little bit.

“I’m aiming to peak for a major in July back in Europe, it’s a step in the right direction”

However, after Brown had claimed the morning lead, in the afternoon Fernandez-Castano also holed six birdies, a bogey and his eagle on the 10th to match his rival at the top of the standings.

“It’s all good to start. It’s always important to start with a good round,” the Spaniard said.

“But still, it’s 54 holes to go, so it’s still a long way.”

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee shot four consecutive birdies to sit one shot behind the leaders in a group of four players on six under.

The Indonesia Open winner holed birdies from the second to the fifth holes and then immediately followed up with a bogey at the par-four sixth.

He bounced back with an eagle at the 10th plus a further birdie on hole 12 to join Korea’s Kang Kyung-Nam and Robert-Jan Derksen of Holland.

“I played very well. I made a lot of putts today, like 13, the par three, I hit a very long putt for par,” Thongchai said.

“And then I started very well, birdied two, three, four, five – four in a row - and then three-putted number six. Very good comeback.”

England’s Robert Dinwiddie, whose round of five birdies and an eagle was soured by bogeys at the seventh and 11th holes, joins Alessandro Tadini and Jason Knutzen on five under.

Elsewhere world number nine Henrik Stenson remains in the hunt with a score of four-under 68, while three-time major winner Ernie Els joins him on the same score thanks to two birdies on the front nine and an eagle at the popular 10th.

Last year’s winner Graeme McDowell endured a difficult return to the Pinx Country Club, firing three bogeys in his first nine holes before hitting three more on the way back in.

Birdies at the fourth and ninth took the sting out of the round a little, but still left him on four-over 76, 11 shots off the lead.

“I’m shocked and stunned. Just didn’t play very well. I drove it all over the place. It was just a bad morning in the office. I didn’t feel quite at the races this morning,” McDowell said.

“I’ve got no complaints. The course was there for the taking. It was in good condition, the greens were a little elusive. I didn’t really putt too well at all.”