Aussie Houston takes early Fiji International lead

Australia's Anthony Houston staged a barnstorming finish to claim a one shot opening round lead at the European Tour-sanctioned Fiji International on Thursday.

Houston birdied the 16th and eagled the 17th to finish the day with a seven-under-par 65 at the Natadola Bay tournament, equalling the course record.

He was a stroke ahead of compatriots Stephen Leaney and Jake Higginbottom, with the bookies' favourite, American Brandt Snedeker, sitting four off the pace after firing 69.

The world number 23, fresh from helping the United States end an eight-year Ryder Cup drought, admitted he was struggling with jetlag and windy conditions late in the day.

"I'm still trying to get to know the golf course, to be perfectly honest with you," he said.

"I had one practice round yesterday with no wind and then a bit of wind today changes everything."

Hometown hero Vijay Singh, a three-time major winner who came third in Fiji last year, was among a glut of players on two-under.

"I played very solid," he said. "Made a couple of little errors so it could have been one or two shots better but a first round 70 is not bad."

The Aus$1.5 million ($1.1 million) tournament is co-sanctioned by the Australasian PGA and, for the first time this year, the European Tour.

However Singh, who designed the course, complained this week that it clashes with another EPGA event in Scotland, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, limiting the number of top players attending.

"I think if we can change the dates to where there is nothing opposite it, we will see a lot more Europeans and hopefully the Asians come here," he told the Fiji Times.

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