Fisher and Hansen lead the way

10/2/2008

Ross Fisher and Soren Hansen both fired blistering rounds of 64 to stride to the top of the leaderboard after the first round of The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Fisher, who like Hansen was playing the Kingsbarns course in the tournament that also features the Old Course at St Andrews and Carnoustie, rattled in seven birdies, an eagle and just one bogey to end the day atop the leaderboard on eight under par.

The Englishman was joined by Ryder Cup player Hansen, who was in similar form and captured an identical eagle, seven birdies and a bogey from his round.

Martin Kaymer also enjoyed a productive day on a Kingsbarns course suited to low scoring as he carded a seven under par round of 65 that handed him outright third place.

The young German recorded eight birdies and a single bogey to sit behind Fisher, and will no doubt be disappointed to have three putted for par after reaching the green in two on the 558 yard par five ninth hole, his 18th.

Sandelin was one of the early pacesetters after completing his first four holes in four under par, and revealed he was more than happy after eventually firing two more birdies and finishing with a bogey free round.

The Swede, whose last win on The European Tour came back at the BMW Asian Open in 2002, was one of six players to complete the Kingsbarns course in 66 while Marcus Fraser, Marc Warren and Grégory Bourday recorded the same score after playing the Old Course at St Andrews.

Thomas Levet carded the lowest score at Carnoustie, the last of the three courses being used for The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, to sit further back in a tie for 13th on five under par.

Harrington notched up seven birdies and a brace of bogeys in a mixed
round - the Irishman was level par after 12 holes only to rattle off five birdies in the last six holes - while Karlsson and Goosen both racked up six birdies offset by a solitary bogey.

Leaderboard – Round 1:

1. Ross Fisher                            ENG  64 - 8
    Sören Hansen                        DEN  64 - 8
3. Martin Kaymer                        GER  65 - 7
4. Marcus Fraser                         AUS  64 - 6
    Marc Warren                          SCO  64 - 6
    Grégory Bourdy                       FRA  64 - 6
    Jarmo Sandelin                      SWE  64 - 6
    Gary Orr                                SCO  64 - 6
    Thomas Aiken                        SAF  64 - 6
    Anthony Wall                          ENG  64 - 6
    Markus Brier                           AUT  64 - 6
 David Howel                              ENG  64 - 6

Source: European Tour