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Angel Franco takes narrow lead

Paraguay's Angel Franco posted a six-under 64 on Thursday to grab a one-shot lead over five players after the first round of the Open de Argentina.

Jose Manuel Lara, Carl Pettersson, Erol Simsek, Olle Karlsson and Richard S. Johnson made it around The Jockey Club at five-under 65.

Matthew Blackey and Angel Cabrera share seventh at four-under 66.

Franco, brother of the PGA Tour's Carlos, opened on the back nine at the Jockey Club and scored a birdie at his first hole. He bogeyed the 14th but came back with two birdies in his final three front-nine holes for a 32.

Franco carded four birdies on his second nine, including a chip- in birdie at number-four.

"I hit the fairways today," said the 45-year-old Franco. "On this course you have to hit the fairways. If you miss the fairways, you are lost. I was also hitting my irons very well."

Franco was forced to change his swing after surgery on his spine two years ago. He recently watched videos with his son, who is also a professional when they realized the problem.

 

Angel Franco in action. Allsport.

"My son told me that in the past my stance was much more open," said Franco. "I've been practicing that for a couple of days. I'm more comfortable."

Lara holed four putts from more than 30 feet and none closer than 15 feet on Thursday.

"My putting was perfect," said Lara. "I missed a lot of fairways by a couple of yards. The course is very narrow. The key was definitely my putting."

Pettersson nearly holed his tee shot at the third with a nine iron, but settled for birdie. At 14, he drained a 20-footer for his fifth birdie and added another at 15 for his 65.

Simsek made three birdies in his first three holes to get into a tie for second.

Karlsson ran home seven birdies, but a double-bogey at the par- four 11th cost the Swede the outright lead.

Johnson, who finished tied for second at last week's Sao Paulo Brazil Open, posted four birdies in a row, starting at 13 for his five-under score.

"I can't remember hitting the irons so well," said Johnson. "And the putting is going well - that's the name of the game."

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