belgian open
Lee Westwood produced one of his best recent displays to finish in a five-way share of second place on the opening day of the Belgacom Open in Knokke.
Westwood recorded a six-under-par 65 on the Royal Zoute course, one stroke behind South African Henni Otto who led the #615,000 event.
Joining 1998 champion Westwood in second place were Ireland's Padraig Harrington, New Zealander Stephen Scahill, Frenchman Marc Farry, as well as Sweden's Ollie Karlsson.
Otto has been working with Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout - a regular on the Tour - who also works with the likes of Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley.
Westwood's display was his lowest round since an opening score of 63 on the first day of August's Volvo Scandinavian Masters - an event he led throughout to claim his fourth Tour win of the season.
However, it was an intense practice session in Belgium on Wednesday evening and again yesterday morning with coach Peter Cowan that Westwood said was pivotal to his good scoring.
''I did a bit of hard work with Pete, and he got me clear and focused on the feelings I was trying to get on my swing,'' said Westwood.
''It paid off, and I hit a lot of good shots out there.
''I am pleased with my game. It is probably the best I have played for a few weeks now.''
Westwood also seized the first-round initiative over Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke and Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, rivals for this year's Volvo order of merit title.
Montgomerie recorded a disappointing 69 having shared the lead at five-under-par after eight holes, while Clarke headed straight for the range following his even more uninspiring 73.
Harrington and Farry shared the lead at six under midway through the opening round.
Dublin-based Harrington recorded seven birdies in his round, and after missing the cut in his last event, seemed to have regained his touch especially after spending two days last with Scottish coach Bob Torrance.
Australia's Wayne Riley birdied six holes in succession to storm to the top of the board before finishing in a group of players at four under par.
The former Scottish, Portuguese, and Australian Open champion had moved to six under after 15 holes but he was dis- tracted on the sixteenth tee by the sound of a stereo in an adjoining house before bogeying the hole and then dropping a further shot at the seventeenth.
The opening round was also highlighted by three holes-in-one - Welshman Paul Affleck, Spain's Ivo Giner, and Frenchman Jeff Remesy - aceing the respective eighth, third, and eleventh holes. However, there were no prizes on offer for any of the holes. Scores (GB or Ireland unless stated):
64 - Hennie Otto (South Africa).
65 - Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Marc Farry (France), Olle Karlsson (Sweden), Stephen Scahill (New Zealand), Lee Westwood.
66 - Paul Affleck, Gary Evans, Jean-Francois Remesy (France), Andrew Raitt.
67 - Tom Gillis (US), Wayne Riley (Australia), Pierre Fulke (Sweden), Soren Hansen (Denmark).
68 - David Park, Jose Coceres (Argentina), Stephen Gallacher, Brett Rumford (Australia), Sven Struver (Germany), Anders Forsbrand (Sweden), Raymond Russell, Anthony Wall, Paul McGinley (Ireland), Gary Emerson, Des Smyth (Ireland).
69 - Peter Mitchell, Miguel Angel Martin (Spain), John Mellor, Dean Robertson, Bernhard Langer (Germany), Colin Montgomerie, Roger Winchester, Nick O'Hern (Australia), Robert Coles, Ian Hutchings (Sourh Africa), Philip Archer, Ivo Giner (Spain), Thomas Levet (France), Eduardo Romero (Argentina), Robert Karlsson (Sweden), Andrew Oldcorn, Adam Scott (Australia), Alastair Forsyth, Santiago Luna (Spain), Jorge Berendt (Argentina), Justin Rose.
n A trio of players shared the honours in the St Vincents' Pro-Am at Old Ranfurly yesterday. Scores:
67 - J Stevenson (Downfield); M King (Deer Park); W Guy (Castle Golf Range). 69 - S Thompson (Gleddoch); A Crerar (King James VI); R Drummond (Unattached). 70 - S Russell (Greenock); B Dunbar (Deer Park); M Miller (Unattached); G Weir (Kings Links); B Marchbank (Marchbank GE); C Brooks (Port Royal Golf Range).
Leading team score: 56 - A Crerar (King James VI pro) D Campbell 18, B McCallum 6, J McGuinness 17.
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