Que opens eagle-aided 71 in European Masters

MANILA, Philippines - Angelo Que hit an eagle but could only churn out a one-under 71, eight shots behind Frenchman Gregory Bourdy at the start of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland late Thursday.

Que, the former three-time Asian Tour leg winner who missed the cut here last year, made an inspiring start of two birdies against a bogey in the first five holes at the back. But he stumbled with a double-bogey on the par-5 15th and had a roller-coaster frontside stint to wrap up his stint.

He birdied No. 1 to go one-under again but dropped shots on Nos. 3 and 4 before knocking down his approach shot on the par-4 seventh into the hole for eagle. He birdied the next but bogeyed the par-5 ninth for that 71.

He actually stood below the cut-off line owing to a low scoring opening round with Bourdy turning in a 63 to take a two-shot lead over Englishman Oliver Fisher, while David Howell, also of England, fired a 66 in a tie with four others.