Morrison leads the way on day one in Leeds - 18/03/2007

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JAMES Morrison produced his finest round of the season to establish an early lead in the tenth event of the 2007 PGA EuroPro Tour.

Morrison (pictured right), who represents the St George's Hill club in Surrey, is on course to make the cut at the De Vere Oulton Hall Masters in Leeds.

He bogeyed the second hole he played but eight birdies saw him end day one on top of the leaderboard after a seven-under round of 64.

However, he has been in this position before as he scored 65 on the opening day at Bovey Castle, Devon in June but then ruined his hard work with a 74 on day two.

Elsewhere, Rob Harris, 21, a member of the Lincolnshire-based Blankney Golf Club, hit an opening day score of 65.

This was only the second time this year he had shot a round of under 70 and it put him in a good position in the race for the £10,000 top prize.

The golfer, who has represented England at Under-21 level, has not enjoyed the best of campaigns as he is currently 76th in the Order of Merit but a victory here would catapult him into the top ten.

A total of 143 of the finest young golf professionals are taking part in the three-day tournament and each player will play a second round on Thursday, August 9 with the top 50 plus ties advancing into the final round on Friday.

Andrew Willey (Ramsdale Park, Nottinghamshire) and Eddie Vernon (Burton-on-Trent) are on five-under, while Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury Golf Club), Lee Clarke (Beeston Fields) and Australian Brady Sherwood are among those on four-under.

Tony Piccolo, a member of the Sports Academy, had secured the highest finish from any amateur golfer on the tour this season when he came tied eighth at Maylands, Essex last week.

But he could not repeat his performance in Leeds as he looks set to miss the cut after a double bogey at the fourth and a triple bogey at the eighth left him on five-over.

It was also a day to forget for 2006 PGA EuroPro Tour Champion Kevin Harper. East Devon member Harper, 25, has been a regular on the Challenge Tour this season and recently finished in tied 124th in The Open.

The course in Leeds proved to be a tricky one for Harper though as he shot three double bogeys and a horrific nine at the 527-yard par-five fourth on his way to a ten-over effort of 81.

Date posted: August 8, 2007.