Lawrie & McGinley share opening lead

Ireland's Paul McGinley birdied four of his last six holes Friday to grab a share of the lead with Scots Paul Lawrie and Gary Orr after one round of the Wales Open at the Celtic Manor Resort.

McGinley, Lawrie and Orr each opened with rounds of five-under-par 67 for a one-shot advantage over Roger Wessels, Roger Winchester, Graham Rankin, Mark Pilkington and Jamie Donaldson, a 25-year-old Welshman who captured the European Challenge Tour's BMW Russian Open last week in Moscow.

McGinley, who has seven top-10s in 17 starts this season, stands 10th on the European Ryder Cup standings but could use another high finish to lock up one of the 10 automatic spots in next month's showdown at The Belfry.

"All I can do is play my own game and let everyone else look after theirs," said McGinley, who's looking to make the European squad for the first time. "I'm in 10th position but I know I can’t defend the position. I have got to accelerate from here over the next four weeks."

The last event in which European Tour players can earn Ryder Cup points will be the BMW International Open, August 30 to September 2 in Munich, Germany.

Lawrie, the 1999 British Open champion at unforgiving Carnoustie, was a Ryder Cup rookie two years ago and posted a 3-1-1 record for the European side. He is currently 25th in points and will need a victory or two to earn a return trip to the matches.

"I hope I will be one of those coming out of the pack. There is no reason why not," Lawrie said. "I am playing tee to green as good as I can play. If I can putt better I could win two of the next four tournaments the way I’m playing. No problem at all. I just need to hole two or three putts more each day."

"I am very determined," he added. "I want to play against the Americans and we’ll see what happens."

Orr emerged with the low score from a threesome that included local favorites Phillip Price, who shot 70, and Ian Woosnam, who struggled to a 73 on Friday.

Andrew Oldcorn, winner of the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in May, carded a 69 to finish the day in a five-way tie for ninth at minus-three.

Round one was pushed back to Friday after torrential rain rendered the Celtic Manor Resort's Wentwood Hills course unplayable Thursday. The second round will be played on Saturday and the final 36 holes are scheduled for Sunday.

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