Fox is off and running at Vilamoura

Order of Merit leader Noel Fox enjoyed a fine start to the Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour’s Oceanico Algarve Championship in Vilamoura, trailing by a stroke from leaders Richard Kilpatrick and Mark Laskey after the opening round in Portugal.
Kilpatrick (Banbridge) shot 65 on the Millennium course (par 71) on a scorching day in the Algarve while Mark Laskey (The Shire) shot 66 on the Victoria course (par 72), missing a short putt on the 18th after a fantastic approach that would have moved him to seven under.
Fox (Team Ireland – MMI) is a shot behind the leading pair after a 66 on the Millennium. Also sitting at five under are Andrew Crux and Robert Steele (Kenilworth Golf Club) who both shot 67 round the Victoria course and Hugo Santos (Oceanico Developments) who shot 66 on the Millennium.
Alan Murray (Greystones GC) is one place behind Fox in the Order of Merit, and one shot behind his fellow countryman at Vilamoura after shooting 67 on the Millennium course – with Freddy Valenti (Rednet Golf Holidays) and Ian Ridgeway (The High Legh GC) both going round the Victoria course at four under.
The players swap courses on Thursday where the top 50 plus ties will make it to the final round.
End of Wednesday play scoreboard
MILLENNIUM
65 R Kilpatrick.
66 N Fox, R Santos, A Sobrinho.
Scots' scores:
69 J Doherty, C Nicoll (jt 9th).
71 S Taylor, L Kelly, L Harper (jt 24th).
NR C McCalman.
VICTORIA
66 M Laskey.
67 A Crix, R Steele.
68 F Valenti (Sco), I Ridgeway.
Other Scots' scores:
70 B Hume (jt 7th).
71 D Stewart (jt 13th).
73 G Brown, N Mitchell (jt 26th).
74 G Gordon (jt 35th).
75 M Kerr (jt 41st).
77 J Taylor (jt 56th).


To view the completed list of scores for the opening round of the Oceanico Algarve Championship, visit http://www.europrotour.com/ and click on the Score Updates link.