Sporting Digest: Golf

BRITISH OPEN Asia / Japan qualifying (Hakui, Japan) Leading first-round scores (Japan unless stated): 66 Y Mizumaki, N Sugai. 69 K Suzuki, K Murota, W Smith (Aus), F Matsutaka, N Kawakami. 71 C Liang-hsi (Tai). 72 P Hoad (GB), R Gibson (Can), T C Chen (Tai), B Jones (Aus).

LEMAN INTERNATIONAL SENIOR TROPHY (Geneva, Swit) Leading first-round scores: 66 C Evans (US). 69 J-M Roca (Sp). 70 H Boyle (GB), R Sota (Sp), R Whitehead (GB). 71 J Garaialde (FR), P Feranti (US), H Muscroft (GB), M Murphy (Irl), V Tshabalala (SA). 72 D Butler (GB), D Snell (GB), D Jimenez (US), F Boobyer (GB), N Coles (GB).

SONY WORLD RANKINGS (US unless stated): 1 N Faldo (GB) 21.43pts; 2 B Langer (Ger) 16.51; 3 F Couples 14.75; 4 G Norman (Aus) 14.44; 5 N Price (Zim) 13.64; 6 P Azinger 13.38; 7 I Woosnam (GB) 12.08; 8 J-M Olazabal (Sp) 11.49; 9 J Cook 10.59; 10 T Kite 10.38; 11 M McNulty (Zim) 10.24; 12 M Ozaki (Japan) 9.91; 13 D Love III 9.66; 14 P Stewart 9.02; 15 C Pavin 8.62; 16 D Frost (SA) 8.27; 17 S Elkington (Aus) 8.06; 18 M O'Meara 8.00; 19 C Montgomerie (GB) 7.79; 20 L Janzen 7.34.