Barham two ahead after opening 63

ENGLAND’S Benn Barham equalled the lowest round of his 10 year professional career with an eight under par 63 to establish a two stroke lead over Frenchman David Dupart after the first round of the Open Mahou de Madrid on the European Challenge Tour at La Herreria Club de Golf.

Barham, who also shot 63 in winning the NCC Open on the Challenge Tour in 2001, birdied six of the last six holes in the Spanish capital to help justify his switch to new coach Matt Belsham at the end of March.

Five players were tied on 66, five under par: Sweden’s Johan Edfors, Denmark’s Jeppe Huldahl, Arnaud Langenaeken of Belgium, Ian Steel of Malaysia and Spain’s Tomas Jesus Muñoz.