Banks Cashes In For First Round Lead - 24/12/2007

BEN BANKS leads The Peugeot International by one shot at -4 following the first round of the PGA EuroPro Tour event at the Marriott Hollins Hall.

Banks, from West Surrey, shot an excellent 67 in testing conditions at the Baildon course, with winds gusting up to 40mph during the opening day.

Banks had a mixed first nine holes, starting with a birdie and adding two more combined with a brace of bogeys, including a six at the seventh hole.

But he made a superb start to the back nine, with birdies at the tenth and 11th holes - the latter proving one of the toughest on the course in the conditions - before then hitting an eagle at the 12th.

He then completed his round with six successive pars to hold his lead going into the second day.

Banks sits one shot clear of early leader Kieran Staunton, from Woodcote Park, and Surrenda-Link's Chris Sands, who both shot 68 on Wednesday.

Leeds-based European Tour player Iain Pyman is one of five players sat on -2 going into the second day, alongside Jeremy Kavanagh, Sam Jarman, Daniel Gaunt and Mark Smith.

Simon Robinson, who has won the last two PGA EuroPro Tour events, shot a two-over-par 73 to sit alongside a host of other players behind the chasing pack.