Dane Hansen shares Dunhill lead
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) -- Denmark's Anders Hansen fired a seven-under 65 to share the lead after the first round of South Africa's Dunhill Championship.
Hansen 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.
The three leaders all had bogey free rounds and recorded seven birdies.
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.
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 at the South African Open.
"It is nice to come out and play well after what happened last week," said Hansen, who led going into final round at Erinvale before shooting a 76 to drop out of the top five.
"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."
Copyright 2004
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
