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Seniors lead way on first day

Ireland's Des Smyth and Englishman Malcolm Mackenzie each shot six-under-par 66s for a share of the lead after Thursday's opening round of the Madeira Island Open. Seven players are tied at five-under, including 1998 U.S. Amateur champion Hank Kuehne.

Smyth led the way from the beginning with four birdies over the first six holes of the scenic Santo da Serra Golf Club. He followed up another birdie at the 11th with his lone bogey of the day, but struck back with birdies at 14 and 15.

"I got off to a great start. That built my round," Smyth said. "Had a good start today but it means very little until later in the tournament."

Smyth, who at 48 is just a couple of years away from the Senior Tour, has won seven times on the European Tour and is in search of his first victory since the 1993 Madrid Open. He has also captured five Irish National PGA Championship titles, the last in 1996.

Mackenzie, who birdied the third, fifth, ninth and 11th holes to climb toward the top of the leaderboard, grabbed a piece of the lead when he holed his approach for an eagle at the 348-yard, par-four 14th.

"I pitched on the back in the bank and it spun back, so there was a bit of luck involved," said the man from Sheffield, who used a driver off the tee and needed just a lob wedge to the green.

The 39-year-old Mackenzie, a full-time member of the tour since 1983, is still looking for his first win. He started the 2001 season with back-to-back top-10 finishes in the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the South African Open.

"I've had a good start to the year -- the best start I've ever had," said Mackenzie, who had only one top-10 in each of the last three years. "This year I think there is something there. I'm shooting low rounds, which I haven't done for a long time. I've stopped fiddling with the theory side. Just tee it up and hit it and worry in between the shots. Find the ball, hit it, find it again and hopefully get it in the hole."

Kuehne, back after a bicep injury, turned in a bogey-free 67 that could have been better were it not for a three-putt for par at the par-five seventh, his 16th hole of the day.

1995 Ryder Cup hero Philip Walton of Ireland, Scotland's Andrew Oldcorn, England's John Bickerton and Philip Golding, and Swedes Johan Skold and Kalle Brink are alongside Kuehne at minus-five.

A total of 14 players are tied at four-under, while defending champion Niclas Fasth and 1996 winner Jarmo Sandelin are among 14 players together at minus-three.

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