Craig Housden and Kieran Staunton lead the Stoke by Nayland Championship 2009 on the PGA Europro Tour after opening their bid with five-under-par 67.
Woodcote Park attaché Staunton began on the 10th and went through the opening nine holes at level par before going up a gear to chalk up five birdies after the turn.
Housden (Channels) also started on the 10th but picked up four birdies before dropping a shot at the 18th to go out four under. He could've have lead on his own had he not dropped a shot on the ninth.
Four players trail the leading pair by one stroke after a scorching day on the Gainsborough course. Lorne Kelly (Pro Dream USA) recovered from a double bogey at the 13th to shoot 68, while Barrie Trainor (South County) roared to four-under after five with two birdies and an eagle and recorded pars at every remaining hole.
Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) was one over after 11 holes but three birdies and an eagle in the next five holes kept him in touch with leaders. The final member of the quartet is Mark Kerr (Golf Fit Ltd/Bathgate GC) who will rue a dropped shot at 17.
Peter O'Keeffe will feel he should be right up with the leaders as he was sitting at five under with four holes to play but two bogeys means he joins Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) in registering a three-under-par round of 69.
A clutch of players at two-under will be hoping to improve on their rounds including Jon Wetton, Peter Finch, Paul Dwyer (Clitheroe), Scott Jamieson, George Cowan (Westerhope), Jeremy Kavanagh (Stoke Park) and Daniel Perrett (Clevedon/Purple Golf), with Challenge Tour regular Jamie Moul one-under-par on his home course.
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01 July, 2009