Lora Fairclough has opening round of 70 in Spanish Open

Golf

Britain's Lora Fairclough is strongly placed to overturn a disappointing season after an opening round of 70 in the Spanish Open at La Manga Club yesterday. The Lancashire player is in a chasing group of five just one stroke behind the South African leader, Caryn Louw, following a three under-par 69.

ALFRED DUNHILL MASTERS (Hong Kong) Leading first-round scores: 63 P Devenport (NZ). 64 K Wook-soon (S Kor). 65 G Norquist (US). 66 A Meeks (US); S Laycock (Aus); B Langer (Ger); B Hughes (Aus); P No-seok (S Kor). 67 H Yu-shu (Tai); T Chi-huang (Tai); B Ruangkit (Thai); S Taylor (US); D Cole (Aus). 68 T Sriroj (Thai); Felix Casas (Phil); M Harwood (Aus); L Joon-suk (S Kor); J Rhandhawa (Ind); C Sang-ho (S Kor). Selected: 69 C Montgomerie (Sco). 71 E Els (SA); Seve Ballesteros (Sp).

SPANISH OPEN (La Manga Club) Leading first-round scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 69 C Louw (SA). 70 S Gronberg (Swe); J Soulsby; P Sterner (Swe); L Fairclough; V van Ryckeghem (Bel). 71 S Melin (Swe); S Bennett; L Navarro (Sp). 72 T Johnson; S Moon (US); W Dicks; M de Boer (Neth); N Fink (Aut); L Maritz (SA); D Dowling; C Duffy.