Evans A Shot Clear In Surrey - 25/02/2007

WENTWORTH'S Justin Evans holds a slender lead following the first round of the Ladbrokescasino.com Masters at Selsdon Park, the final PGA EuroPro Tour event of the year.

Evans failed to drop a shot during his opening round in Surrey, carding six birdies in his 64 to lead by one shot from Nathan Treacher and Lloyd Kennedy.

After opening the tournament in 53rd place on the PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit, Evans has effectively ensured his place in next month's Tour Championship - barring a disastrous second round - and could even break into the top ten should he take the £10,000 first prize.

Treacher was in superb form during his round, carding 29 for his back nine thanks to an eagle and four birdies to join Chelmsford GC's Kennedy at -5.

Kennedy, the winner of the Towergate Insurance Championship at Maylands earlier this year, also dropped just one shot during his round, but made up for that bogey at 17 by hitting a birdie - his sixth of the round - at the final hole.

Former double European Tour winner Jamie Spence is among three players sat a further shot back at -4 following his opening round 66, which featured three birdies in the final four holes.

He is joined two shots off the pace by Bury's Sean Doherty - who landed an eagle and three birdies - and Galway's Mark O'Sullivan.

Former PGA EuroPro Tour winner Andrew Willey, Lee Harper and Matthew Ford - who recently won Stage One of the European Tour Qualifying School at Chart Hills - are a further shot behind at three-under-par, with Simon Robinson and Daniel Gaunt among a group of five players at -2.

Runaway Order of Merit leader Graeme Clark is one of seven players at -1, while former Tour Champion Mark Smith retired due to injury during his first round.

The top 60 players in the PGA EuroPro Tour order of Merit following the Ladbrokescasino.com Masters will qualify for next month's Tour Championship.