Golf: Way's Ryder Cup incentive

PAUL WAY helped his chances of a Ryder Cup call-up yesterday when he shot a six-under-par 66, one stroke behind another Englishman, Andrew Sherborne, and Alberto Binaghi of Italy, after the first round of the Heineken Catalan Open at Osona Montanya, near Barcelona.

'The cup is on my mind,' he said. 'I need two or three wins (he is only 53rd in the points table), but I think I am capable of that.' Way was off to a flying start. Birdies at four of the first six holes sent him to the turn in 32 and he sank putts of 15 and 25 feet coming home to strengthen his position.

Sherborne was leading on his own with two to play, but had three putts on the eighth, his penultimate hole. He had earlier had an eagle and six birdies.

Binaghi took a share of top place for the first time in his seven-year professional career thanks to a 30-foot closing putt. It was the 28-year-old's ninth birdie of the day.

Kent's Jamie Spence had a 68, as did the Ryder Cup points table leader, Barry Lane, and Jose- Maria Olazabal, with Ian Woosnam one shot further back.

CATALAN OPEN (Osona Montanya, Barcelona) Leading first-round scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 65 A Binaghi (It); A Sherborne. 66 J Townsend (US); P Way; D Clarke; R Drummond. 67 S Tinning (Den); S Grappasonni (It); G Turner (NZ); M Gates. 68 S Ames (Tri); H-P Thuel (Ger); P Curry; F Nobilo (NZ); J-M Olazabal (Sp); J Spence; B Marchbank; A Hare; G Evans; B Lane; J Payne. 69 D W Basson (SA); M Martin (Sp); E Darcy; A Gillner (Swe); A Bossert (Swit); F Lindgren (Swe); R Chapman; J Carriles (Sp); J Robinson; I Woosnam; J M Canizares (Sp); D Hospital (Sp); I Garbutt; J Parnevik (Swe); D Curry. 70 J Sewell; S Bowman (US); A Forsbrand (Swe); J Davila (Sp); R Mann; E O'Connell; G J Brand; S McAllister; M Sunesson (Swe); D Cooper; B Malley (US); P McGinley; M Mackenzie; J Van de Velde (Fra); M A Jimenez (Sp); J Rivero (Sp); D J Russell; P Walton.