The Handa Open began in earnest today at Concord Golf Club but it was warm and windy weather which proved a stern test for the field. The opening round of the Handa Open began today in challenging weather conditions at Concord Golf Club. With a top temperature of 36 degrees, the course was a warm place to be and a strong afternoon wind made play harder again. Stuart Reese from New Zealand manage to score well in the challenging Sydney weather, shooting a 2 under par round of 69. Randall Vines (Qld) also played great golf to be the only other player under par, shooting a round of 70 to be 1 shot further back. A group of 3 players including New South Welshman David Merriman finished on even par for the day. Defending champion Wayne Grady had a round of 1 over par in the blustery conditions and is well placed to defend his title over the weekend. With cooler conditions and lighter winds forecast for Saturday, players will be looking to move up the leaderboard in the 2008 Handa Open. Click here for the opening day draw and results