Swindon's Howell opens with one-over par at Wentworth (From Swindon Advertiser)

Swindon's Howell opens with one-over par at Wentworth

6:00am Friday 25th May 2012 in Golf

SWINDON golfer David Howell sank a birdie at the final hole to leave himself in a good position to make the cut at the end of the first round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The Broome Manor player carded a one over-par 73 from his opening 18 holes, which included two birdies and three bogeys.

Howell sits seven shots off the lead, which is shared by Scot David Drysdale and Irishman Peter Lawrie on six under.

The 36-year-old was playing alongside Anthony Wall and Soren Kjeldsen, and made a consistent start with six straight pars to open his round.

The first blotch on his scorecard came at the seventh with a bogey five, before another at 11 left him two over.

He made a quick reply with a birdie at the very next hole, before four more pars took him up to the last two holes.

Another bogey came at 17, before he recovered instantly with a birdie four at the par five 18th.

Howell, Wall and Kjeldsen tee off at 9.15am this morning as the Swindon-born professional looks to haul himself back into the tournament he won back in 2006.