Thu May 29 16:30:16 2008

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Strange shoots 63 to lead Wales Open

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Newport, Wales (Sports Network) - Scott Strange fired an eight-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead after the first round at the Wales Open.

Edoardo Molinari opened with a seven-under 64 and was alone in second place, with Jeev Milkha Singh and Alvaro Velasco tied for third place at six-under 65.

Magnus A. Carlsson, Ricardo Gonzalez, Raphael Jacquelin, Ross McGowan and Paul Waring are another shot further back at five-under 66.

The first round was finished despite being delayed in the morning by one hour and 45 minutes because of fog. The delay, while it lengthened the day, was also a blessing to some players.

"It was freezing cold in the morning," said Singh, "so it was good to be out there later."

Molinari, the 2005 U.S. Amateur champion, played in the early wave of tee times and took the clubhouse lead with a flawless round of seven birdies and 11 pars.

"I drove the ball well, and today my putting was very good," said Molinari -- but his lead wouldn't last the second wave of players.

Strange started his round on No. 11 at Celtic Manor -- host of the 2010 Ryder Cup -- and climbed the leaderboard with six birdies in a seven-hole stretch, including five in a row from the 14th.

The 31-year-old Australian made two more birdies in the next six holes to move in front of Molinari for the first time, then fell back into a tie for the lead with his only bogey of the round.

Strange birdied his last hole to take the lead again.

"I think any time that you shoot eight-under you have got to be satisfied," said Strange, who benefited from the warming temperatures enjoyed mostly by the later groups.

"The weather was good and the course was good, so it was a nice day," he said. "When the weather is that good and you are playing well you know there is going to be a low score."

There were 69 players who broke par on Thursday, including Colin Montgomerie (69), Darren Clarke (70) and reigning British Open champion Padraig Harrington (70), who is playing in the Wales Open for the first time.