GOLF: Ireland's Des Smyth and Eamonn Darcy both showed good form on the opening day of the US Champions Tour Qualifying School at Rolling Oaks, Florida, yesterday.
While Smyth raced to a share of the lead with David Eger despite dropping a shot at the ninth - his last hole - with a five-under-par 67, Darcy had an up and down day in shooting a three-under-par 69.
Smyth, starting from the 10th, set his stall out early with two opening birdies and three more at the 14th, 16th and 18th took him to the turn in five-under-par 31.
Birdies were hard to find on the way home but after seven straight pars he birdied the par-three 17th, for the outright lead, only to drop a shot at the final hole for an inward half of 36 and a total of 67.
Slow starting Darcy, playing in the same threeball as Smyth, dropped shots at the 13th, 15th and 16th before a welcome eagle three at the 18th took him to the turn in one-over-par 37.
A hat-trick of birdies from the third took him under par for the first time and he finished in style with a birdie three on the 18th for his 69 and a tie for ninth place. One shot off the pace are Jeff Thomas, Dean Overturf, Frank Conner, Jerry McGee and Butch Sheehan on 68.
The winner earns $42,000 - a nice little nest-egg for 2003 - but more important is the exemption to play the Champions Tour next year.
Only the leading qualifier and seven others earn full playing privileges while a minimum of eight more players get conditional status.
Smyth and Darcy head a strong international contingent. The two Irishmen are among 16 players from around the globe who hope to go to the US next year.
Smyth has won eight times in four decades and played on two Ryder Cup teams. His last win came in 2001 at the Madeira Island Open when, at the age of 48 years and 34 days, he became the oldest winner on the European Tour.
LEADING SCORES: First round: 67 - D Smyth, D Eger; 68 - J Thomas, D Overturf, F Conner, J McGee, B Sheehan; 69 - E Darcy, M Smith, T McGinnis, T Goin; 70 - E Pearce, P Rhoden, J Bodin, L Carbonetti, R Ault, E Fiori; 71 - J Ross, C Hughey, B Hiskey, J Godwin, D Halldoran, M Aoki, M Pfeil, D Kestner, J Overton.
