McGowan leads Portugal golf event

CASCAIS, Portugal, April 2 (UPI) -- England's Ross McGowan shot 7-under-par 64 Thursday and has a 2-stroke lead at the European PGA Tour's Estoril Open in Cascais, Portugal.

Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey shot 5-under 66 and is alone in second place.

"I didn't really make any mistakes but sometimes you don't get the breaks," McGowan said after a round that included eight birdies and a bogey, which came at the par-5 fifth hole.

"I played steady and my control was good, especially into the wind. On another day I might have been struggling but down wind I was knocking it on the green and taking my putts and moving on."

Despite a neck ailment, England's Simon Dyson joined Scotland's Alastair Forsyth and Spain's Carlos Del Moral at 4-under 67, tied for third.

Defending champion Gréeory Bourdy of France was among 19 golfers at 3-under 69 in a tie for 12th place.