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Lee leads with 66, Westwood shoots 81

Daren Lee fired a bogey-free, six-under-par 66 for the early lead after Thursday's opening round of the Great North Open. The 36-year-old from England stands two shots clear of countryman Jamie Spence and Scotland's Andrew Coltart.

Reigning Volvo PGA Champion Andrew Oldcorn, another Scot, shot a three-under 69 for a share of fourth place with New Zealand's Greg Turner, Welshman Bradley Dredge, Scott Gardiner at Australia and England's Roger Chapman.

Lee got off to a quick start on the back nine at De Vere Slaley Hall with an eight-foot birdie putt at the 10th. He had to settle for a second straight birdie after just missing his eagle putt from the fringe at the par-five 11th, then made it to three-under with a 12-foot birdie at No. 14.

He recovered from a bad drive at the par-five fourth by reaching the green in three and holing an 18-foot birdie. Lee made another 18-footer for birdie after an eight-iron approach at the fifth hole, then closed his flawless day with a 50-foot birdie from across the green at the ninth.

"I've missed every cut in England this year but I worked on a few things last week at home and that has helped a lot. I've been trying to turn my hips more and stop using my hands so much from the top of the swing and having that to think about helps take your mind off everything else," said Lee, a late starter Thursday who took advantage of the benign afternoon conditions.

"The wind definitely dropped off in the afternoon but I played really solidly all the way round."

Among the golfers tied for ninth is England's Nick Dougherty, the amateur protege of Nick Faldo. The 19-year-old from Lancashire carded an eagle and birdie to kick off his round but made three bogeys against two birdies the rest of the way for a two-under 70.

Defending champion Lee Westwood has struggled at times this season and Thursday was no exception. The European No. 1, even for the day with one birdie, one bogey and nine pars through 11 holes Thursday, began to fall to pieces with three double-bogeys in a four-hole stretch. He closed with three straight bogeys for a second-nine 45.

"I haven't hit the ball well for five months so I don't know why it should get better all of a sudden," said Westwood, whose first-round 81 tied for the second-worst round of his European Tour career.

Westwood posted a career-high 85 in terrible weather conditions during the final round of the 1996 Benson and Hedges International Open.

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