GOLF AUSTRIAN OPEN:GARY MURPHY was best of the Irish on the opening day of the €1 million Austrian Open at Fontana Golf Club in Vienna where England's Benn Barham equalled the lowest round of his career – an eight-under par 63 – to hold a one-shot overnight lead.
The 33-year-old carded seven birdies and an eagle two on the 423-yard 13th, where his 150-yard approach pitched just past the flag and spun back in. His only blemish of the day came with a bogey at the 10th, but still leads from Scotland’s Scott Drummond and Australian Brett Rumford, who both shot 64.
“I couldn’t quite see it drop, but the people around the green were shouting and waving so I knew it had gone in,” said Barham in reference to the eagle. “This time of year you have no choice – either knuckle down and play well to keep your card or go somewhere else, which I am not thinking about.
“I’ve been playing well the last four or five weeks, so this is not a freak round.”
The Englishman needs to climb from 175th in The Race to Dubai rankings to guarantee his card for next year.
Murphy had a mixed bag on the front nine, trading two birdies with as many bogeys, but three birdies on the inward half, including one at the 18th, ensured the Kilkenny golfer signed for a three-under 68 to be just outside the top 20.
Damien McGrane could only muster a level 71, while his playing partner Michael Hoey, who won his first professional event at this venue in 2005, shot 72.
