Coltart takes lead with new putting touch

Former Ryder Cup duo Andrew Coltart and David Gilford shot 5-under-par 67s Thursday to share the first-round lead with Nick Dougherty in the Scandinavian Masters.

Korean teenager Kevin Na, who is based in California, Stephen Scahill of New Zealand and Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands were one shot behind the three British co-leaders in the $2.2 million event at Barseback Golf & Country Club.

Coltart, a Scot, had seven birdies and two bogeys as one of the early starters to set a new course record for the altered layout in southern Sweden, site of the Solheim Cup matches in September between defending champion United States and Europe.

For Dougherty, a 21-year-old who's trying to keep his card for next season, it was the best round since he was diagnosed as suffering from glandular fever in May, an illness which has contributed to his sleeping abilities.

``I'm a walking mattress anyway,'' joked Dougherty. ``Every time I get in a car I fall asleep. We got in the hotel at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon and I woke up at 9 on Thursday morning. That's not normal but it's the best illness I've ever had because I do love my sleep.''

Dougherty, who's 115th on the European Order of Merit well into the halfway stage of the season, was runner-up at the Qatar Masters in his rookie season for his best European Tour finish.

``I've got the game to win a couple of tournaments, it's about having the right approach with a better technique, which I've got,'' said Dougherty, who made 12 straight cuts at the start of this season but missed six out of the next eight after the illness was diagnosed.

Fredrik Jacobson, the gallery favorite who is trying to become the first Swede to win the event since non-starter Jesper Parnevik won his second straight title in 1998, had a 71.

``Four shots behind the leaders after the first day is pretty good,'' said the U.S.-based Jacobson, who won twice in Europe this season and finished fifth in his U.S. Open debut and then sixth in the British Open.

Carl Pettersson, another U.S. Tour regular from Sweden, shot a 69 and shared seventh.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page