Marc Cayeux tops leaderboard with opening 63

Zimbabwean Marc Cayeux is hoping to maintain the challenge that earned him a one-stroke lead in the Scandinavian Masters first round on Thursday so he can help his stricken family back home.

An eight-under-par 63 that would have equalled the Kungsangen course record but for waterlogging problems that resulted in a shortened course and preferred-lies, left Cayeux a shot ahead of 45-year-old Briton Barry Lane and two strokes in front of Australian Mark Hensby and Swede Robert Karlsson.

The 25-year-old leader was born in Lancaster, England, but spent only a year in Britain before his English mother and South African father returned to Zimbabwe.

Now, with his country in turmoil, Cayeux has become the breadwinner of the family, with his mother's petrol station job at an end because there is little fuel and his electrician father out of work, too.

A big week has become a must for Cayeux, a graduate from the 2004 Challenge Tour who is finding form after a difficult time.

He has missed 12 cuts in 19 starts, leaving him stranded in 141st place on the European money-list, when only a top 115 place at the end of the season will guarantee he keeps his card.

As a product of the Nick Price-inspired junior golf programme in Zimbabwe, Cayeux is anxious to pay back something for his golfing education but even more anxious to help out his struggling parents.

"I send money back to support them," he said, after producing a faultless card with an eagle and six birdies.

"I do feel pressure. Sometimes I use it to my advantage and sometimes it gets to you. This is a chance for me to give something back."

Cayeux has worked with a sports psychologist to swing his fortunes, which have dipped since he won the South African Tour Championship earlier in the year.

Waterlogging, which caused the cancellation of Wednesday's pro-am, resulted in five holes being shortened and the course reduced by 386 yards.

Lane, 45, is battling back from a serious knee injury that cost him his chance of qualifying for the British Open and bidding to put his final hole collapse in this year's Portuguese Open when he was leading, behind him.

Tournament favourite Adam Scott, who had predicted Hensby might be one of his chief threats, shot a modest 70 and Jesper Parnevik, returning after a two-month break, carded 71.

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