• Czech Open, Round One

McGowan falters as Dyson flourishes in Czech Open

Ross McGowan takes grass as well as ball © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Injury brings an end to McGowan's Ryder Cup dreams
  
• News: Hanson into Ryder Cup places with Czech Open win
  
• News: Hanson builds solid platform at Czech Open
  
• News: Pavin feels Europe have Ryder Cup edge
  

Leaderboard

Ross McGowan's Ryder Cup dreams are hanging in the balance after the Englishman finished the first day of the Czech Open with much to reflect, while Simon Dyson has done his chances no harm after a late flourish.

McGowan currently sits 11th on the European points list for Ryder Cup qualification but he must secure a top-four finish in Prague to book an automatic spot on Colin Montgomerie's team.

The 28-year-old, who won the Madrid Masters last season, has not had a top-four finish all year and a double bogey on his first hole at the 10th suggested he was feeling the pressure.

But to his credit, he stuck to his task to carve out several opportunities to birdie. However, another double bogey, on his final hole, ensured he finished the day some seven shots off the pace.

Another player hoping to make the trip to Celtic Manor in October is Dyson. Currently 16th in the race for places in Montgomerie's side with two events to go, Dyson put together a patchy round before a late flurry of birdies helped his cause immensely.

With his back nine beginning on the first tee, he picked up shots at the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th to sign off with a 70 to leave him well placed overnight.

Oliver Wilson is not out of the biennial event and a level-par 72 will have given him a slim hope of featuring in his second successive Ryder Cup.

Although his round was largely erratic, Wilson showed glimpses of brilliance and should he win the tournament or finish second, he will head to Gleneagles next week for the Johnnie Walker Championship still in with a chance of automatically qualifying.

India's Shiv Kapur currently heads the leaderboard after a stunning back nine helped him card a six-under par 66.

After two back-to-back bogeys on his first two holes, Kapur hit the turn in 36 before rattling in six birdies in a row down the stretch to fire himself into the lead.

Miguel Angel Jimenez had a mixed bag in his one-under par 71. The Spaniard struck five birdies as well as four bogeys to at least stay in the hunt.

Tano Goya hit six birdies in all to propel him into second place. Goya, ranked No. 301 in the world, had only one blemish on his card - a bogey at the par-three third - to leave him one shot adrift of Kapur.

Ireland's Shane Lowry had a day to forget after ending the day on three-over-par. Lowry, whose best finish to date this year was seventh at the Barclays Scottish Open in July, hit 13 pars but it was four bogeys that caused the damage to his card.

World No. 49 Peter Hanson put in a stirring performance to fire a warning shot to the rest of the field. The Swede bagged seven birdies on his way to a 67 - though his round could have been even better had it not been for two bogeys at the second and 12th.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.