Solid start for Aaron Rai in latest tour challenge
Wolverhampton golfer Aaron Rai enjoyed a solid start to the English Championship at Ware.
The 25-year-old – who placed in the top 10 at last week’s Hero Open at the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire – had an up and down round at Hanbury Manor.
Rai posted six birdies but also three bogeys in this European Tour event to sit five shots off the opening-day leader.
Northern Ireland’s Cormac Sharvin finished the day top of the leaderboard on eight under par, a shot clear of a group of seven who were tied for second.
Belgium’s Thomas Detry, English duo Laurie Canter and David Howell, Australians Jason Scrivener and Min Woo Lee, and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent were all locked together on seven-under.
Elsewhere, the USPGA Championship got under way last night, with the marquee group of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas all making the ideal start in San Francisco.
Starting on the back nine at Harding Park, Woods, McIlroy and world number one Thomas all made birdie on the par-five 10th hole as the early starters looked to take advantage of excellent conditions.
Woods, who has just four competitive rounds under his belt since mid-February, is seeking a 16th major title following his memorable Masters triumph last year.
