Dodd & Dredge share first day honours

Welshmen Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge fired seven-under-par 65s to lead the Dunhill Championship after the first round on Thursday.

They held a one stroke advantage over three players, including 20-year-old South African rookie Louis Oosthuizen, who shot an amazing 57 at his local club two months ago, Zimbabwe's Sean Farrell and South African Callie Swart.

Englishman Paul Casey, the 2001 European Tour rookie of the year, was in a group of six players two shots back on 67.

Dodd, 36, returned a bogey-free round to assume the same position he held on the leaderboard after the first round 12 months ago before finishing in a tie for 30th place.

Dredge overcame a bogey at the first before finding his rhythm with birdies on the next three holes.

He added a further five birdies to maintain the pressure on his compatriot in search of his maiden European Tour win.

"I could have had a 65 on the first day last week, but I'll take it this week," the 29-year-old Dredge said. "Last week I struggled a bit for the first two days but over the weekend my ball striking got better but my short game left me. Today it was pretty good all round."

Dodd, who was joint leader along with Paul McGinley after the first round of last year's tournament, said: "The key today was that I was driving it in the fairway and holing a few putts.

"I suppose giving yourself chances is the key on most courses and I did that really well today.

"I played well towards the end of last year, from around the time of the Dunhill Links championship. I've had a good start to the season with two top-10's already, which builds the confidence, and I feel good at the moment.

"I think I can win, that is what we are all out here for. I came close in Hong Kong and few putts here and there can make all the difference."

BRIGHTEST PROSPECTS

Casey, one of the brightest prospects on the European Tour, carded a solid round of five-under par 67.

"Today I was more aggressive in a controlled way," Casey said. "I was focused on where I wanted to hit it on the green and that was the game plan.

It was a vast improvement from last week for the 25 year-old after he missed the cut last week at the South African Open.

"Last week I tried not to make mistakes and that just put more pressure on me when I did make a mistake. It was the wrong way to think," he said.

The 36-year-old Swart, a journeyman on the South African Sunshine Tour, put his fine round down to the work he has done on the mental side of his game.

"I've started working with a psychologist and we're focusing on visualisation and getting me to focus better," Swart said.

"I never believed in it but my brother Johan, who caddies for me, decided I needed it because he was sick and tired of me practising so hard and not getting the results."

Defending champion Justin Rose of England had a mixed round of one-over 73, while South African Open winner Trevor Immelman shot a three-under 69, including a double bogey on the ninth.

England's Lee Westwood showed glimpses of the form that took him to the top of Europe's order of merit in 2000 with a one-under par 71. He missed the cut at the South African Open, but gave himself a chance of playing over the weekend despite four bogies on his card.

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