Unsung trio lead Munich pack as play suspended

Three players outside the world’s top 250 outshone the big names in the early stages of the BMW International Open in Munich today, which was suspended at 10.40am Irish time after a particularly heavy downpour.

Three players outside the world’s top 250 outshone the big names in the early stages of the BMW International Open in Munich today, which was suspended at 10.40am Iirish time after a particularly heavy downpour.

Swede Michael Jonzon, South African Branden Grace and Spaniard Alvaro Velasco - respectively 340th, 273rd and 468th on the rankings – overcame the wet conditions to charge to four under par.

That put them one in front of Wales’ former Ryder Cup hero Phillip Price and two clear of a group which included his 2002 cup team-mate Paul McGinley, 1999 team member Andrew Coltart, England’s Oliver Fisher and Dane Soren Kjeldsen - who last week had to pull out of the US Open with an ear infection.

Defending champion Martin Kaymer was one under along with Luke Donald and Henrik Stenson, ninth in New York on Monday and at fifth in the world the highest-ranked player in the field – while former Open champion John Daly was only one over with eight to play.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, Rory McIlroy, Bernhard Langer and Retief Goosen were among the later starters.