Berendt leads chasing pack

Jorge Berendt finished with two birdies on his opening round to take the lead in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club on Thursday.

Berendt is tied on four under with England’s Chris Gane, while Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie, Sebastian Delagrange, Michael Campbell, Paul Way, Darren Fichardt and Joakim Haegmann all one shot adrift on three under.

Argentina’s Berendt made a solid start, holding level until the fourth when he picked up back to back birdies on four and five.

Berendt held his nerve well on the back nine, before picking up a birdie three on 17 and a birdie four down the last.

Montgomerie, a doubtful starter for the tournament because of his continuing back trouble, looked comfortable on Thursday, with his putting particularly impressive.

Starting at the 10th, the Scot birdied 12, 13, 17 and 18 to reach 4-under before a bogey at the first dropped him back into a share of the lead.

A birdie on four and a bogey at six then gave him a first round total of 69.

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