Dutch Open: Boysen storms to lead

Dutch amateur Niels Boysen shot a seven-under-par 64 for a two-shot lead in the first round of the Dutch Open at Noordwijkse.

The stunning 64 included nine birdies and two bogeys and was a record for the Dutch Open on the par-71 links course. The previous best round of 65 had been achieved several times.

Boysen started with a wild drive at the tenth tee, his first hole, but recovered to make par before launching into a remarkable series of seven birdies and one bogey in ten holes for an outright lead at six under par after playing 11 holes.

A bogey four at the sixth pegged Boysen, playing in the penultimate trio of the day, back to tied first on five under.

But he finished in style, birdying his last two holes to stage the most remarkable stunt in recent years at the Dutch Open.

Scots Andrew Coltard and Dean Robertson and Englishman Peter Baker shot 66s to share second place on five under. Coltard bounced back from a double-bogey seven at the second to shoot five birdies and an eagle.

A group of nine players were tied for fifth place on four under with Ireland's Darren Clarke and South African Ernie Els a stroke further adrift after shooting 68s.

Bernhard Langer was two under after a 69. Miguel Angel Jimenez and defending champion Stephen Leaney finished on level par, needing to work hard on Friday to make the cut, which is likely to fall at one or two under.

Conditions were excellent throughout the day but slightly increasing winds and hardening greens later on meant many of the better rounds were in the morning.

Englishman Russell Claydon became the first player to win a car with a hole in one at the Dutch Open in 17 years. But two double-bogies and two bogies put Claydon in the clubhouse at one-over-par after a 72.

His 12th-hole ace was the first to be so rewarded since Brian Waites at the seventh hole of the Rosendaelsche Golf Club in 1984. There have been other holes in one since then, but always at the wrong hole to claim the car prize.