MICHAEL HILL NEW ZEALAND OPEN RELATED STORIES Michael Hill New Zealand Open Preview Round 1: Trio share lead with opening 68s Round 2: Stephen Bowditch takes over lead with second round 65 Round 3: Richard Finch takes over lead with round of 64 Round 4: Richard Finch gains first European Tour victory Michael Hill New Zealand Open Scores 2007 European Tour Schedule Syndicated Thumbnail Navigation player featuring a selection of clips taken from Golf Bug TV. For use on the Golf Today website. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1256280431http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=495713462 GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Greg Norman struggles at Troon Ochoa leads with flawless 65 Mike Weir amongst leaders Four share lead in Russia Padraig Harrington hungry for more success Michelle Wie to play on PGA Tour again

Trio share lead with opening 68s

Englishman Matthew Woods shot an opening round of four-under-par 68 in blustery conditions to earn a share of the lead at the New Zealand Open on Thursday.

Woods was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Australians Craig Parry and Paul Sheehan with a group of 10 players a further shot back on three-under.

Only 38 of the 156 players in the field managed to break par on the first day after high winds made low scoring almost impossible at The Hills near Queenstown.

Parry and Sheehan were both four-under after nine holes but were unable to pick up any more shots on the back nine once the weather started to deteriorate.

"It's a course that when it isn't blowing, you can go out and shoot a low number. If the wind blows like it normally would, par's a very good round," Parry told reporters.

The New Zealand Open is co-sanctioned by both the European and Australasian PGA Tours.