Four-way tie at Russian Open
by Richard Field, 24 July 2008
Three Scandinavians and an Englishman lead the Russian Open at the conclusion of the first round.
Finn Kakko Roope bogeyed the final hole to settle for a seven-under 65 to join David Carter and the Swedish pair of Joakim Backstrom and Fredrik Henge at the head of proceedings in Moscow.
Backstrom, seeking a second European Tour title, holed his second shot from 233 yards for an albatross, at the 15th, in a round which also contained six birdies and two bogeys.
Henge produced a flawless performance with seven birdies at the Le Meridien Moscow course.
Englishman Carter made a storming start with five consecutive birdies and then sank two more at the 13th and 14th holes.
South African Darren Fichardt fired a 66 to occupy fifth place in a round containing a solitary bogey.
Sion Bebb of Wales and English golfer Andrew Marshall carded 67’s - on a tightly packed leaderboard - to trail the pacesetters by two shots.
Last year’s runner-up Robert-Jan Derksen made good progress on the opening day with a 68.
Defending champion Per-Ulrik Johansson was in decent shape at five-under approaching the final hole, but he finished his day's work with a double-bogey six to card a 69.
John Daly produced a typically up and down round with six birdies and two bogeys to shoot a two-under 70 in sunny conditions.
Click here for round one leaderboard.