Coltart finds a bit of form

Dutch open: Andrew Coltart equalled the European Tour's record for nine holes when he came home in 27 shots in the first round of the Dutch Open yesterday. Coltart's run of seven birdies from the turn, in a round of 65 that left him a stroke off the lead held by Taichi Teshima and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, was one less than the tour's record streak of birdies .

He now shares the record for a back nine with Jose Maria Canizares, Joakim Haeggman, Simon Khan and Robert Lee.

The Scot, who played in the 1999 Ryder Cup, has missed the cut in his last seven events and in 10 of his last 11. "It has been a hard few years but that's not through lack of trying," Coltart said."It's nice to see your work get some results for a change."

At the other end of the field Bernhard Langer's son, Stefan (17), marked his tour debut with a near-century. Seven bogeys, four doubles, two triples and a septuple bogey 12 left him with three putts on the last for a 100, but he holed from 40 feet for par and a round of 98.

"I hit only one fairway and no greens. I lost a couple of balls and most of the ones I found were unplayable," Stefan said. "My driving was bad and this course is very punishing. Believe it or not, sometimes I beat my dad in friendly matches."

His father, who turns 50 on Monday, shot a five-birdie 67 and remains in with a chance of becoming the tour's oldest winner.

"My mind was a little bit on Stefan," he said. "He was thrown in at the deep end but I hoped he could shoot some reasonable numbers and try to enjoy it. He's got a minimum six more years at school and playing college golf before he starts thinking about turning professional."

Young Langer's 98 was not the highest shot on the tour - Mark James had a 111 in the 1978 Italian Open in Sardinia.

Gary Murphy was the best of the Irish trio after a three-under 67 left him in a tie for 20th.

David Higgins was one shot further back, while Damien McGrane must work to survive the cut after a one-over 71.

Guardian Service

Barclays Open:American Brian Gay claimed the early lead at the Barclays Open at Westchester CC, in New York, yesterday with a first round six-under-par 65.

Starting at the 10th, Gay fired five birdies in a back nine of 31 to lead by one from Briny Baird, Heath Slocum and Jeff Maggert.

Padraig Harrington was one over par after 12 holes.

World Matchplay:Confirmation that Tiger Woods is not returning to the HSBC World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth in October has helped Colin Montgomerie to earn a place in the 16-man field.

World number one Woods, knocked out in the first round by fellow American Shaun Micheel on his second appearance in the event last year, has turned down his invitation, as have Masters champion Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk and Sergio Garcia.

Montgomerie now qualifies for another shot at the €1.5 million first prize thanks to his European Open victory.

Challenge Tour: Noel Fox put himself in the hunt at the Postbank Challenge presented by Marcel Siem with an opening three-under-par 68.

Fox, from Portmarnock, finished his round with a birdie on the 18th at the Golfclub Mülheim an der Ruhr on the outskirts of Dusseldorf to lead the Irish challenge.

Fox trails leader Andrew McArthur of Scotland by four strokes, with Michael Hoey, Michael McGeady and Gareth Maybin all on level par.

Justin Kehoe and Mark Murphy signed for one over par 72s, with Danny Sugrue on 73.

u EUROPRO TOUR: Damian Mooney produced one of the recoveries of the season to scrape a place in the final day of the PGA EuroPro Tour event at Whittlebury Park.

After a first round 80, Mooney fired seven birdies in the first 14 holes on his way to a 65.

Welshman David Price and Scot Elliot Saltman lead on 137.

European Amateur: Co Louth's Simon Ward moved up the leaderboard in the European Amateur Individual Championship in Berlin yesterday with a two-under-par 70 for a halfway total of 145.

Nevertheless, his 70 moved him to one over par for the tournament - some eight strokes behind halfway leaders Scotland's Wallace Booth, England international Ben Evans and Benjamin Hebert of France.

Richard Kilpatrick is just one stroke behind Ward after a 72.