Strong finish sees Storm rise to top

ENGLAND’S GRAEME Storm took a two-shot first-round lead at the KLM Open after a seven-birdie 63 at Hilversum yesterday.

The Hartlepool native birdied two of the last three holes to nudge ahead of a tightly-packed leaderboard which sees European Ryder Cup team members Martin Kaymer and Peter Hanson among the leading challengers.

Kaymer shot a five-under-par 65, the highlight of which was an eagle at the 12th hole, to join Fabrizio Zanotti and Raphael Jacquelin in second place.

Hanson was a shot further back after a round containing five birdies and a solitary bogey at the sixth.

The third member of Jose Maria Olazabal’s team in action, Belgian wild-card pick Nicolas Colsaerts, was level par – while Olazabal’s eventful one-over-par 71 contained one of the highlights of the day when he chipped in from a bunker for one of his five birdies.

Storm made a steady start and was one under through six holes before back-to-back birdies at the next two holes sparked his round into life.

He gained another pair of shots at 11 and 12 to join the leaders before his strong finish took him clear of the pack at seven under.

Zanotti’s round was also bogey-free, starting with two birdies and finishing with another, while Jacquelin began with a bogey at the ninth before going eagle-birdie at 12 and 13, picking up further shots at holes one to three and finishing off with a birdie at eight.

Kaymer’s front nine contained three birdies before a chaotic back nine balanced two birdies, two bogeys and that eagle.

England’s Danny Willett was one of three British challengers alongside Hanson on four under while Paul Casey and Oliver Fisher feature in a large group at three under. Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano birdied the last to join that group.

The best of the seven-strong Irish contingent were Peter Lawrie and Gareth Maybin, who both had a one-under 69, with Damien McGrane a shot further back. Simon Thornton will need to get under par today after a 71, as will former champion Darren Clarke after a 72.

Shane Lowry and Ryder Cup vice-captain Paul McGinley both carded 74s.