Trio share opening round honours

Denmark's Anders Hansen put last week's disappointing finish at the South African Open behind him by firing a seven-under 65 to share the lead after the first round of the Dunhill Championship on Thursday.

Hansen, who led going into final round at Erinvale before shooting a 76 to drop out of the top five, set the early pace but was later joined by Germany's Marcel Siem and Scotland's Alan McLean who took advantage of the better morning conditions.

With persistent rain falling the entire day, the Houghton Golf Club course became waterlogged towards the end of play with the greens becoming increasingly difficult to putt on.

The three leaders all had bogey free rounds and recorded seven birdies.

Frenchmen Raphael Jacquelin and Gregory Havret and Denmark's Soren Hansen were one stroke off the lead on six-under with four players grouped at five-under.

England's Lee Westwood was among a group of 11 players on four-under 68.

Compatriot Justin Rose struggled in the conditions shooting a three-over 75 while South African Open winner Trevor Immelman finished with a birdie for a two-under 70.

Hansen, playing with a painful wrist, said he had quickly got over last week's disapointment.

"It is nice to come out and play well after what happened last week," Hansen said. "To be honest though, I wasn't that disappointed after last week.

"There was no point. I played well for 65 holes after a two month lay-off so I can't be unhappy. It would be stupid to go away disappointed."

Hansen said the reason behind his good form was a mystery to him after becoming disillusioned with the sport towards the end of 2003.

He put his clubs away and spent time talking to a 'friend' who has helped him refocus mentally.

"I spoke to my friend and we talked about what happened last week," he said. "You can't dwell on it for too long... it will ruin you, but I can't tell you why I have started so well.

"My wrist has been bothering me a bit, I'm not exactly sure what it is but let's call it tendonitis. I hurt it when playing out of the deep rough last Sunday -- I hit a pretty good shot -- but it's been painful ever since."

Germany's Tobias Dier had the rare pleasure of a hole in one, using a nine-iron on the 145-metre 12th hole. It was his only highlight in an otherwise poor two-over 74.

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