I agree completely with starting small and then using a tapered reamer. You'll get a much cleaner hole that way.
However, if such is not available to you, then use a spade bit, but be sure to get one with cutting spurs at the edges, such as this. In a non-metric size, you'll want either 7/8 or 15/16. Go slowly, and use a piece of scrap wood as a backing block when drilling your hole.