McGowan grabs lead at Castello Masters

Ross McGowan rode a bogey-free 7-under-par 64 Thursday into the lead after the first round of the European Tour's Castello Masters in Spain. McGowan had five birdies and an eagle, carding a 2 on the par-4 17th hole, in taking a two-stroke lead after 18 holes. Richard McEvoy and Fabrizio Zanotti are tied for second at 5-under. Each had six birdies and a bogey on the day. Zanotti's round featured five consecutive birdies on Nos. 11-15. Sergio Garcia is among seven players tied at 4-under. McGowan played the second nine at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo first on Thursday. After opening with a pair of pars he had back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13 and got to 3-under with a 2 at the par-3 16th. His second-shot, a 4 iron at the 503-yard, par-4 17th dropped in for an eagle. "I wasn't sure it had gone in," McGowan said. "I head one clap, got up there and found it in the hole." McGowan added birdies at Nos. 3 and 8 for his 64.