Jamaican takes lead in Barbados Open

ST JAMES, Barbados (CMC):

JAMAICAN DELROY Cambridge shot an opening round four-under par 68 to take the lead on the first day of the ninth annual Barbados Open golf tournament, the season-opener for the prestigious European Seniors Tour.

After a slow start where he faced strong winds at the Royal Westmoreland Golf Course on Wednesday, the big-hitting six-footer sank four consecutive birdies to finish one stroke ahead of Graham Bannister of Australia and American Jerry Bruner on the par-72 course on the island's scenic west coast.

Cambridge, a veteran of the European Seniors Tour, said he had been working hard at improving his putting and the hard work seems to be paying off.

His best performance at West-moreland was sixth back in 2006 and he said he was definitely looking to improve on that and take one of the top spots in this US$275,000 event.

"I had been struggling with my putting so I switched to a belly putter, and so far it seems to be working," he told reporters.

"My confidence is up. I played well in some US Champions Tour qualifying events, and I've carried that form into this week. I just hope it continues for the next few days."

Eighth position

Four strokes behind Cambridge and tied in eighth position is former World No. 1 Ian Woosnam, the former Masters champion and Ryder Cup captain, who is playing his first Seniors Event. He turned 50 two weeks ago.

The Welshman, who owns a home in Barbados, had looked to be into his stride after making birdies at the fifth and sixth holes. However, a triple bogey seven at the ninth checked his momentum.

"I've never played the course in such windy conditions before, so any advantage my local knowledge might've given me went out the window. My back was also playing up, so I couldn't swing as freely as I would've liked," noted Woosnam, who won the green jacket at Augusta National in 1991.

"But I was still pretty pleased with the way I played, and it was just nice to be out there competing again. The triple bogey at the ninth was obviously disappointing, but at least I ended on a high with the birdie on 17."