Trio Share Lead In Azores - 17/09/2007

THREE players share the lead following the opening round of the Verde Golf Azores Championship at Batalha GC.

Matthew Woods, the winner of the opening PGA EuroPro Tour event at Wensum Valley recently, is among the trio sat on -3 after carding a 69 in windy conditions on Thursday.

Woods, who carded two eagles and five birdies, slipped from -5 after 14 holes to finish at three-under.

He is joined by Michael Searle and Andrew Rudge in the lead, with the latter carding an eagle and also hitting three birdies in his last four holes.

Matt Ford slipped from -5 with four holes remaining to finish as one of five players a shot back at -2.

He is joined by Nathan Main, Matthew Richardson, Euan Little and Graham Gordon, who finished strongly with two birdies and an eagle in his final four holes.

Francis McGuirk hit six birdies and an eagle in a mixed round of 71, and he sits alongside Daniel Gaunt and former PGA Tour star John E Morgan on -1.

Antonio Sobrinho, who won last year's Barclays European Masters at Vila Sol, is among ten players sat on level par, alongside Darren Prosser, the three-times Azores Open champion.

Damian Mooney, who was the runner-up in the Wensum Valley International Open last month, is among the players sat on 73, with home professional Rui Indio further back at +3.