EUROPEAN

• Hansen, Fisher share Dunhill lead

  
  

  St.

  Andrews, Scotland (Sports Network) - Soren Hansen and Ross Fisher both fired rounds of eight-under-par 64 Thursday to share the lead after the opening round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

  This event resembles the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on the PGA Tour in that play is spread over three courses and amateurs compete alongside the pros each of the first three days.

  Both Hansen and Fisher played Kingsbarns Golf Links. The other two courses in the rotation are the Old Course at St. Andrews Golf Club and the Championship Course at Carnoustie Golf Club.

  Martin Kaymer is alone in third at minus-seven, while nine more players are tied for fourth at six-under-par 66.

  Of the top 19 players on the leaderboard, just one played at Carnoustie. The other 18 were at either Kingsbarns or St. Andrews.

  Hansen started his round on the 10th and picked up early birdies at 11 and 12. After dropping a shot on the par-five 16th, he made the turn at two-under thanks to a birdie at the par-four 18th.

  Around the turn, Hansen birdied the first and third. He parred his next three before finishing with a flourish.

  Hansen, who is coming off an 0-2-1 record at the Ryder Cup, converted back-to- back birdies tries from the seventh, then made eagle on the par-five ninth to grab a share of the first-round lead.

  "It was one of those situations where you look at the leaderboard and say 'What happened there?'" Hansen stated. "It was a very good finish, but I had played well all day, and we were playing in very good conditions." Fisher also played the back nine first and had a quick start of his own. After making birdie on 11, he followed with an eagle on the par-five 12th.

  He gave a shot back with a bogey on 15, but Fisher bounced right back with a birdie at the 16th.

  Fisher ran off four straight pars around the turn before sinking birdies efforts at three and four. He closed with three consecutive birdies from the seventh to join Hansen in the lead.

  "It's a lovely setting here at Kingsbarns, the weather was just perfect," said Fisher.

  "To take advantage of a day like this was just great and to do it in the fashion that I did with a 64, was very, very pleasing. I'm off to a great start but there is a long way to go." David Howell posted a six-under 66 at Kingsbarns and was joined in a share of fourth place by Marcus Fraser, Marc Warren, Gregory Bourdy, Jarmo Sandelin, Gary Orr, Thomas Aiken, Anthony Wall and Markus Brier.

  Thomas Levet was the lone player in the top 19 to play Carnoustie. He shot five-under 67 and shares 13th place with six others players, including Padraig Harrington and Retief Goosen.

  10/02 14:21:01 ET