Seve suffers in the Welsh hills

Severiano Ballesteros - the first casualty of the Wales Open

Seve Ballesteros' miserable season continued at the inaugural £750,000 Wales Open when he was forced to withdraw in the first round.

The Spaniard managed just eight holes of the Wentwood Hills course before being forced to admit defeat in his battle against a back and hip injury.

"I took some painkillers yesterday (Wednesday) and it did not feel too bad this morning but after eight holes it was too painful to carry on," the 43-year-old said.

"It may be to do with all the travelling I've been doing recently and now I'll go home and rest and see a specialist. It's the first time I've had a problem with my hip."

Phil Price - in form this year

Ballesteros, whose next scheduled appearance is at the Irish Open at the end of the month, was three over when he called it a day after a disastrous start.

He hooked his opening tee shot out of bounds to run up a triple-bogey seven and despite picking up two birdies he dropped further shots at the sixth and eighth.

The five-time major winner has suffered a miserable season so far, missing the cut in seven out of his nine events.

Concentration

Another veteran fairing much better was former Masters and Open champion Sandy Lyle who reached the turn in 33, three under par. Lyle, who is concentrating more on the European Tour this season after struggling to get invites on the US Tour, had four birdies in his front nine before a bogey on the 13th dropped him back.

At two under par he was three off the lead held by England's Roger Chapman who was five under after 13 holes, with Scotland's Stephen Gallacher and English duo Philip Golding and Robert Coles two shots back.

Ian Woosnam - looking for Welsh win

Local favourite Phil Price was level par after 13 holes while compatriot David Park was two under after 12.

Chapman, who was without a win after 18 years on tour until his victory in Brazil in March, set the early clubhouse target but had to settle for a 69 after dropping a shot on the last.

"I felt maybe a 66 was on after four birdies in the first six holes but it's a long slog round here and you just get a bit tired and lose a bit of concentration at the end.

"Overall I'm quite pleased with the way I played, I'd take another three 69s round here.

"I struggled with my putting the last few weeks, I went through three putters last week, but I stuck with the last one today."

The 41-year-old's effort saw him four shots off the lead held by compatriot Robert Coles, the Londoner seven under par after 12 holes.

Chapman was soon joined on three under by Wales' David Park who delighted the home crowd with five birdies and two bogeys in his 69.

Lyle dropped three shots in a row from the 13th but rallied well to pick up shots on the 16th and 18th to finish with a two under par 70.

Coles, 27 from Hornchurch in Essex, had missed the cut in his last three events but was having no difficulty with the "long slog" of the back nine.

Birdies at 10, 11, 12 and 14 took him to eight under par with one hole to play, four shots ahead of Doncaster's Ian Garbutt who had picked up four birdies in 13 holes.