Dublin duo Peter Lawrie and Stephen Browne find themselves just two shots off the pace midway through the first day of the Spanish Open at San Roque in Cadiz.

Lawrie shot seven birdies and two bogeys for a five uner 67 while Browne played a flawless round containing five birdies. The pair are in a groupd of seven players tied for seventh.

Waterville's David Higgins opened witha solid 70 but the news wasn't so promising for Damien McGrane who shot 73, one better than Michael Hoey.

The name Ballesteros graced the top of the Spanish Open leaderboard for a long time today, not Severiano the five-time major champion's 25-year-old nephew Raul who plays only part time on the European Tour.
   
Raul, son of the oldest of the Ballesteros golf professional brothers Baldomero, raced four strokes ahead of the first round field over a course partly designed by Seve, only to drop three shots at the last two holes and end on six-under-par 66.
   
Raul, playing on an invitation by the tournament promoters, trailed the two early leaders, Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima and Briton Graeme Storm.
   
Raul said: "I've never been nine-under for 16 holes before,. It's not my best score. I have had a couple of 61s at my home course in small events, but it is my best result on the European Tour."
   
The Spaniard is trying to gain a European Tour card, which he has never held, from seven invitations this year but missed the cut in the Madeira Island Open and came 71st out of the 76 finishers in the Portuguese Open.
   
"Another 66 would be good," added Raul, who insists he does not feel under pressure to follow in his famous uncle's footsteps.
   
Lima and Storm are playing on the back of good results in last week's Asian Open in China. Lima tied third and 1999 British Amateur champion Storm was 13th.

Colin Montgomerie, who last week ended a career-worst run of five successive missed cuts and went on to finish joint third in the Asian Open, finished four under. The eight-time European number one does not mind admitting that he feels more comfortable on home soil.

"I have never really felt that comfortable in the States and therefore I have never won a 72-hole event there," he said. "It's something I'd like to change and I will I think."

The biggest money-winner in European history - with over £16million - has gone back to a belly putter, but it is seeing his name on a leaderboard which does most for his confidence.

Montgomerie said: "I was always comfortable being number one and less comfortable when I wasn't. There are some people who are not comfortable leading as they feel a bogey is on the way.

"I've dedicated myself to the European scene and I've been very successful at it. I don't regret not having played (more) anywhere else."
Montgomerie returned to the top of the Order of Merit after six seasons last year and does not rule out claiming a ninth crown this October.