Ulsterman Darren Clarke is well positioned after his first round in the £650,000 European Grand Prix at Slaley Hall today. Clarke shot a 3 under par 69, which leaves him three strokes off the lead held by Scotland's Sam Torrance on 6 under after an opening round of 66. Earlier on the fourteenth Torrance landed a hole-in-one, the third of his career.
Clarke was surprised by his good start as he had only returned from a transatlantic trip following the US Open on Monday.
"Three under was very good considering what I thought I'd get when I started," said Clarke. "I'm very tired physically as well as mentally exhausted, and the previous two nights I've only had four hours sleep per night."
Torrance's fellow Scot Andrew Coltart also figured prominently on the leaderboard, with matching halves of 34 in his round of 68. Ireland's Gary Murphy carded a level par 72, while Phillip Walton finished 4 over par with a 76.
