Newport, May 30: Australian Nick O'Hern changed his European Tour putting fortunes to catch Britain's Ian Poulter for a share in the first round of the Wales Open lead as both equalled the Celtic Manor course record 65. Poulter, despite suffering another bout of tonsillitis, set the seven-under-par target which O'Hern matched late on Thursday (May 29), leaving them a stroke ahead of another Briton, Jonathan Lomas. Europe's 2000 rookie of the year, Poulter at last found his game after a swing-change with coach David Leadbetter, setting the target with eight birdies but bogeying the 14th to deny himself a place on top on his own. Then O'Hern, who has finished fifth and eighth the previous two times he has played the event, single-putted the first six greens and had his best putting show of the year in compiling seven birdies on an unblemished card to haul into a tie on top. The 31-year-old Perth man is hoping for good results this week and next on the European Tour before heading home to be with pregnant wife Alana.


A group of seven players shared third place with a round of 67, including another Australian, Peter Fowler and the Spaniard Ricardo Gonzalez.


Tournament favourite Colin Montgomerie did not live up to expectations when he carded an indifferent 73 to lie eight strokes off the pace.


Poulter is looking for his fourth title and is relieved to be over a poor spell in which he has missed five of the last six cuts after undergoing a swing change with Leadbetter for more consistency in his game.


Poulter had no expectations this week because he was feeling ill and that ight have helped him to set the pace at Celtic's Manor Course, in Newport, Wales, the venue of the 2010 Ryder Cup.


Leading scores after the first round of the Wales Open played at the par-72 Celtic Manor course (British unless stated): 65 Ian Poulter, Nick O'Hern (Australia) 66 Jonathan Lomas 67 Peter Fowler (Australia), Alastair Forsyth, Jarmo Sandelin (Sweden), Philip Archer, Richard Green (Australia), Ricardo Gonzalez (Argentina), Malcolm MacKenzie 68 Simon Khan, Andrew Coltart, Jamie Donaldson, Jean-Francois Remesy (France), Santiago Luna (Spain), Klas Eriksson (Sweden), Carlos Rodiles (Spain), Peter Lawrie (Ireland), David Drysdale, Darren Fichardt (South Africa), Gregory Havret (France), Phillip Price, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spain), Sven Struver (Germany), Barry Austin, Julien Van Hauwe (France)


Bureau Report