Focused Hanson moves into position

GOLF:PETER HANSON lurks as the biggest danger to first-round leader Shiv Kapur at the Czech Open – and to Paul Casey in the Ryder Cup race.

The 32-year-old Swede will oust the absent Casey from Europe’s top nine with victory at the Prosper Resort in Celadna on Sunday, and a five-under-par 67 has left him just one behind Kapur.

Hanson lies 15th in the points race, but there is a €333,330 first prize and, as one of only two of the world’s top 50 in the field, it is a golden opportunity.

The other is Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez. Currently eighth on the cup table, he started with a 71 and should be concerned about the possibility of being overtaken by Hanson as well.

English trio Simon Dyson, Oliver Wilson and Ross McGowan are also chasing a spot in Colin Montgomerie’s side and they shot 70, 72 and 73 respectively.

Asked about the controversial decision of Casey – and also Pádraig Harrington and Luke Donald, both of whom are just outside a qualifying spot – not to enter next week’s race-ending Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, Hanson stated his view.

“If you have a chance to make the team or especially if you want a pick (like Justin Rose, another stay-away) it might be good to play,” he said.

After two weeks in America during which he was eighth at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Hanson made the long trip after asking for and receiving a sponsor’s invitation on Monday.

“That gave me the chance to get into the team and the tournament organisers have been very nice to me,” he added. “If I could put myself in position come Sunday it would be fantastic.”

Kapur, who has missed his last three halfway cuts and seven of the last nine, led from the moment he had six successive birdies from the second after teeing off at 7.20am.

Hanson shares second with Argentina’s Tano Goya and Dyson, who shot four closing birdies.

Peter Lawrie and Michael Hoey were best of the Irish contingent after both shot an opening 70. Gary Murphy (73), Damien McGrane and Simon Thornton (both 74) have work to do as has Shane Lowry who shot a 75.

FIRST ROUND SCORES

(Par 72)

66 – S Kapur (Ind).

67 – P Hanson (Swe), T Goya (Arg).

68 – R Bland, Jn Guerrier (Fra).

69 – S Hend (Aus), R Finch, R Kulacz (Aus), C Carranza (Arg), JM Lara (Spa).

70 – M Lundberg (Swe), M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra), A Haig (SA), A McLean, P Price, P Edberg (Swe), S Dyson, Peter Lawrie, A Wall, ET Johansen (Nor), M Warren, M Tunnicliff, F Widmark (Swe), F Andersson Hed (Swe), Michael Hoey.

71 – A Kang (USA), P Sjoland (Swe), N Smith (USA), A Butterfield, R Coles, MA Jimenez (Spa), K Ferrie, G Storm.

72 – M Wiegele (Aut), C Cevaer (Fra), J-B Gonnet (Fra), S Webster, O Wilson, S Drummond, M Lafeber (Ned), S Lilly, G Boyd, D Drysdale, S Dodd, F Zanotti (Par), J Donaldson, A Canizares (Spa), A Canete (Arg), T Stewart (Aus).

73 – J Parry, S E Bebb, S Hansen (Den), N Fasth (Swe), O Henningsson (Swe), R Cabrera Bello (Spa), P Waring, N Colsaerts (Bel), C Rodiles (Spa), M Brown (NZ), D Lynn, J Morrison, T Carolan (Aus), Gary Murphy, S Gross Jnr (Ger), I Garrido (Spa), E Canonica (Ita), T Levet (Fra), R McGowan.

74 – Damien McGrane, F Aguilar (Chi), R Rock, A Forsyth, B Hebert (Fra), Simon Thornton, G Fdez-Castano (Spa), P Martin (Spa), S Garcia (Spa), B Dredge, F Ohlsson (Swe), V Skalle (Cze), A Maestroni (Ita), B Rumford (Aus), C Suneson (Spa), M Ruiz (Par), S Gallacher, M Foster.

Other Irish: 75 – Shane Lowry.