Trio Take Early Bovey Castle Lead - 19/07/2007

EAST DEVON'S Kevin Harper is among the early leaders at The Bovey Castle Championship after posting a four-under-par opening round of 66 on Tuesday.

Harper was in sensational form at the Dartmoor course, hitting four birdies and finishing with an eagle at the 18th.

He shares the first round lead with Matthew Woods and Sean Whiffin.

Donnington Grove's Woods also eagled the 18th, and hit five birdies in his opening 11 holes before dropping two shots on the 16th.

Whiffin was among the leaders for the opening two rounds in last week's event at Collingtree Park, and again started well with a 66 on Tuesday which included five birdies.

Chris Trott joined the players to master the 18th with an eagle to accompany four birdies as he opened with a three-under-par 67.

That score was matched by Phil Rowe - who shot four birdies and an eagle - and Alex Sandeman, who dropped just one shot in his opening round.

Scottish duo Graham Gordon and Colin Mitchell head a group of eight players at two-under-par, and an eagle at the last ensured that Lee Gauthier joined them in contention.

A further eight players, including previous PGA EuroPro Tour winners Tim Rice and James Holmes are at -1, with 2005 Tour Champion Mark Smith among nine hopefuls at level par.

Teignmouth's Sean Mason opened with a 74 and will have to improve on Wednesday if he is to make the cut, which sees the top 50 players, plus ties, progress to the third and final round.

Former England footballer Lee Dixon, playing for only the second time on the PGA EuroPro Tour as he tastes life in another professional sport, shot a birdie and ten pars in his round, but dropped shots saw him post a disappointing 84.