US TOUR:Australian Matt Jones had six birdies and an eagle in his six-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead midway through the first round of the Texas Open yesterday.

Jones actually double-bogeyed his opening hole, the first, over the new Oaks course at TPC San Antonio. But he then birdied the sixth and seventh before charging home in six under par, including eagling the long 14th.

American Paul Stankowski also had six birdies in his 67 to be alone in second, while JB Holmes and Matt Weibring were sharing third after 68s.

Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was bidding to emulate Arnold Palmer by winning the event for a third year in a row. Johnson triumphed last year in a play-off with fellow American James Driscoll at LaCantera Golf Club.

But Johnson was off to a bad start, being three over after just seven holes.

EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR:Bill Longmuir will take a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Senior Masters at the Stapleford Forum in England as he tries to deny John Harrison and Boonchu Ruangkit a place in the record books.

Longmuir started the day with the same advantage over the field following a stunning opening nine-under-par 64 – his lowest to par on the European Senior Tour – and maintained that advantage with a 69 to move to 13 under par for the tournament.

Harrison and Ruangkit carded 67s to share second place on nine under par and both will have their sights on re-writing the record books today, with Harrison bidding to become the youngest Senior Tour winner and Ruangkit targeting his fourth straight Senior Tour victory.

Des Smyth is just a shot behind that pair on eight under after adding a fine 68 to his opening 70

But it is Longmuir who is in pole position to capture his eighth Senior Tour title and first victory since the Barbados Open in 2008.

WOMEN'S TOUR:Denmark's Iben Tinning shot a five-under-par 67 to lead the way by one stroke after a cold and rainy first round at the German Open in Munich.

Rebecca Coakley was best of the Irish after a 71, while Hazel Kavanagh and Alison Walshe were just a shot back.