Hansen takes early lead in Austria

Denmark's Soren Hansen made a blistering start to his opening round of the BA-CA Austrian Open as he raced to the turn in five…

Denmark's Soren Hansen made a blistering start to his opening round of the BA-CA Austrian Open as he raced to the turn in five under par today.

Hansen, who won his only European Tour title at the Irish Open in 2002, carded five birdies after starting on the back nine.

He picked up his first shot at the 158-yard 11th and then had back-to-back birdies at the short par fours at 13 and 14.

Further birdies came at the 17th and 18th as the 32-year-old turned in 30 with the shorter front nine still to come.

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He led by two from Scotland's Alastair Forsyth, who had birdies at the first, third and sixth - all par fours - before he bogeyed the 188-yard seventh.

He clawed back that dropped shot at the par-five ninth for a front nine of 32.

Compatriot Colin Montgomerie bogeyed the 13th but birdied the par-five 15th to be level par through eight holes.

Playing partner and Ryder Cup team-mate Paul McGinley was one under after a birdie at the 15th.

The pair's fortunes changed at the par-five 18th however, as McGinley put his approach into the lake to make bogey while Montgomerie enjoyed a slice of luck.

He pulled his lay-up into the grandstand, was afforded a free drop and promptly chipped to two-and-a-half feet for birdie to move to one under.

The Scot also missed a makeable 15 footer on the 491-yard second for birdie.  PA