Smith Among Leading Trio - 14/07/2007

2005 PGA EuroPro Tour Champion Mark Smith made a fine start to the Towergate Insurance Championship at Maylands to join two other players in a one-shot lead after the opening round.

Derbyshire's Smith shot eight birdies on the first day of the tournament, with the only blot on his copybook being a double bogey at the 14th.

He shares the first round lead with Beverley's John Wells - who also shot eight birdies - and local Essex professional Justin Brown, who failed to drop a shot in his faultless 65.

The trio are a shot clear of seven players going into the second day, with Phil Rowe carding three birdies and an eagle and Stuart Cage hitting five birdies on the back nine.

Andrew Willey - the winner at Collingtree Park a fortnight ago - and David Close only dropped one shot each in their rounds of 66, and were joined at -5 by Jason Dransfield, Scott Jackson and Roger Winchester.

Graeme Clark shot an eagle and five birdies in his 67, with Wentworth's Matthew Mills also sat at -4 following his opening round.

They are followed closely by a group of 15 players sat at three-under-par, with current PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit leader Damian Mooney among 13 players at -2.

The top 50 players, plus ties, following Thursday's second round will compete on Friday for the £40,000 prize fund.