SWINDON’S David Howell had a mixed start to proceedings at the ISPS Honda Wales Open as he carded a first day one-under-par.
Howell headed into the European Tour tournament at Celtic Manor full of confidence looking to end the season strongly and claim his place in the Race to Dubai season finale.
The Broome Manor Pro made a steady start as he was level par through the first five holes before back-to-back birdies on the par-four sixth and par-three seventh put him in a good position.
It was short-lived though, as he bogeyed the very next hole, the par-four eighth. After the turn he continued to slump with back-to-back bogeys on the par-five 11th and the par-four 12th.
Not phased but the sudden dip the Wiltshireman, who is competing with the likes of Lee Westwood and Nicolas Colsaerts, recovered his form with birdies on the par-four 14th and par-four 15th to come home with a score of 70.
Howell finished the day in tied 27th to put him in a good position to make the cut and was five shots behind the overnight leader, Dutchman Joost Luiten.
It was a bad start for Westwood ahead of the Ryder Cup next week as he scored a two-over-par 73.
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