Colomo leads in Hong Kong as McIlroy trails

Published on 16/11/2012 00:00

SPAIN’S Javi Colomo was the shock leader of the UBS Hong Kong Open after the first round, with world No 1 Rory McIlroy nine shots behind and needing a big improvement just to survive the halfway cut.

Colomo is 507th in the world but the Asian Tour member’s six-under-par 64 put him one ahead of compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez and Australian Andrew Dodt.

A tired-looking McIlroy, who last Sunday clinched his European and US Tour money list double, managed only one birdie as he began his title defence.

On his return to Fanling, the 23-year-old had to play out left-handed from the trees on the sixth, made a mess of his approach to the 14th and three-putted at the 15th. With bogeys on all three holes he finished in a share of 93rd place before telling reporters he felt “lethargic”.

Scots Stephen Gallacher and Paul Lawrie shot 68 and 69 respectively, but it was a day to forget for Scott Jamieson as he slumped to an error-strewn 85 to sit in last place.