South Africa's Tim Clark reeled off two eagles and three birdies to join Australian Scott Hend in the lead after the opening 18 holes of the European Tour co-sanctioned Australian Masters at Huntingdale today.

Clark's afternoon round of five-under 67 was interrupted by a three-hour electrical storm delay and was two shots off the pace at the time before grabbing birdies on the 15th and 16th holes in benign conditions.

The world No.43, who was runner-up in the US Masters two years ago, earlier had joined Hend in the lead after 10 holes following eagles on the downwind par five seventh and 10th holes.

“I had two eagles all year on the US Tour so that was quite a shock for me, but downwind they were reachable and that was where you had to make your score up on a day like this,” Clark said.

“I was starting to drop shots before they called us off and I was lucky to come back out and make a few birdies.

“The wind was a lot calmer and from a different direction and the greens had softened up so it was a totally different course.”

Hend led for most of the day after posting six birdies and a bogey in blustery morning conditions.

“My target was to be as aggressive as possible downwind, and then just try and make a par into the wind,” Hend said.

Three players — Englishman Daniel Wardrop and Australians Anthony Brown and Michael Wright — were two shots off the pace on three under 69 along with Australian Chris Downes, who had five holes to complete his first round.

Two-time major winner John Daly had a torrid opening round with a four-over 76. The American said he was just focused on survival and kept his signature driver under wraps for much of the round.

“It was blowing from the get-go,” said Daly, who finished bogey-bogey.

“This was just a day when I guessed on so many shots instead of knowing.”

Australian Robert Allenby, who swept the Masters, PGA and Australian Open in successive weeks three years ago, finished at one-over 73.

Other leading Australians had their problems, with Stuart Appleby firing a 74 and three-time Masters champion Craig Parry (76).

AFP

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