More than atoning for his abysmal opening to the 2001 season in last week's Tucson Open, where he started with an opening round of six-over-par, Richie Coughlan surged through the field in the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii yesterday when he fired a five-under-par 65 to be just one shot adrift of early pace setter, former Open Champion John Daly.

Playing at the end of the morning starters from the first tee, Coughlan opened with a birdie, made another at the third and posted his fifth three of the front nine at the eighth which saw him reach the turn in 32.