Spanish Int'l Amateur: O'Donovan atop busy leaderboard

CARTAGENA, Spain (Feb. 28, 2013) -- Ireland's Richard O'Donovan fired a first-round 71 and leads by two shots at the 2013 Spanish International Amateur at La Menga Club. O'Donovan, the No. 64 player in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com World Rankings, leads a pack of seven players that shot 1-over 73 in Round 1. Antoni Ferrer Mercant, Eder Moreno Linares and David Morago Ayra of Spain are tied for second place alongside England's Jamie Rutherford and Harry Casey and Dermot McElroy of Ireland and Will Jones of Wales. All told, there are 15 players within three shots of the leader and 24 players inside of four shots on a jam-packed leaderboard. The second round of the event's 36-hole stroke-play qualifier kicks off Thursday. The top 32 players will advance to match play.