 | FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD GB & Ire unless stated
-6 S Appleby (Aus)
-5 J Smith (US), DA Points (US)
-4 C Warren (US), A Baddeley (Aus), B Geiberger (US), S Leaney (Aus), M Gronberg (Swe)
Selected others:
-3 G Owen (Eng), V Singh (Fij)
-1 P Harrington (Ire)
Par G McDowell (N Ire), I Poulter (Eng)
WD D Clarke (N Ire)
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Stuart Appleby sunk a birdie on the final hole to take a slim one-shot lead after the first round of the Houston Open at the Redstone Club. The Australian was tied with Jerry Smith and DA Points at the 17th but chipped in from 45 feet to card a 66 and take the lead.
Vijay Singh, who is seeking a hat-trick of Houston titles, was three shots off the lead on three under.
Darren Clarke withdrew to return home to his ill wife after a round of 68.
Clarke's withdrawal left England's Greg Own as the leading British player on three under.
Charles Warren, Mathias Gronberg, Aaron Baddeley, Brent Geiberger and Stephen Leaney were all two strokes off Appleby's lead.
The Australian, who won the Houston title in 1999, was pleased with his round but said there is room for improvement given the ideal conditions.
"I was fortunate enough where my round was not clean and perfect," said Appleby.
"I could have done better but I sort of like the way my game feels right now."
MMIX
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