New clubs, new caddie, but Stenson still shines

Sweden's Henrik Stenson took a surprise, first-round lead at the Sun City Challenge after shooting a five-under-par 67 yesterday.

The Ryder Cup player was a shot clear of defending champion Jim Furyk at the tournament being played at the par-72 Gary Player Country Club.

Padraig Harrington and another of the successful European Ryder Cup team, David Howell, carded 69s, with double US Open champion Retief Goosen and South African newcomer Charl Schwartzel a further shot behind in the elite 12-man field.

Stenson is one of four debutants at the 2006 tournament. The last first-time winner was Mark McNulty in 1986.

The Swede was using new clubs and ball for the first time in a competition since changing sponsors a week ago. He also had Nick Faldo's former caddie, Fanny Sunesson, carrying his bag for the first time.

Despite the changes, Stenson was a model of consistency with five birdies and no bogeys in a near flawless round.

He went out in 34 after birdies at the second and ninth, the two par fives on the front nine. He then added a third birdie on the par-five 10th and completed a good day on the par fives with another birdie at the 14th, following that with a birdie on the par-four 15th.

"I'm happy with the day at the office," Stenson said. "The only tricky thing for me was the swirling wind. There's not a lot of it, but it does make you think.

"I had plenty of chances for birdie in the 20- to 25-foot range which I missed, but in all it was a very good day.

"When you consider my new clubs, new ball, the fact that I have a cold and that I haven't practised in a week, it was pretty good."

Furyk, the world number two, also enjoyed a bogey-free round, which included four birdies.

Harrington made the fastest start, going out in 32. His round included a stretch of four straight birdies between the seventh and the 10th holes, but he bogeyed the 14th and 15th.

"I started to get a little ahead of myself at 14 and was beginning to think I was invincible," Harrington said.

"But I played well, I was hitting the ball well and the course is only going to get tougher.

"The greens were quite soft today and the pins were generous, but this course has got to be the most severe course for swirling wind."

Harrington's 69 was a continuation of his excellent late-season form.

The 35-year-old won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October and clinched his first Order of Merit title with second place at the Volvo Masters at Valderrama.

The Dubliner was also sixth at the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, before beating world number one Tiger Woods in a play-off at the Dunlop Phoenix event in Japan earlier this month.

Howell, third on the Order of Merit behind Harrington this year, carded four birdies and one bogey in his 69.

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie props up the star-studded 12-man field after struggling to an opening 75, dropping four shots in his last five holes.