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Lafeber leads by one at European Open

05/07/2007

Maarten Lafeber shot a six-under-par 64 at the K Club to lead by one stroke after the first round of the European Open.

The Dutchman has just one European Tour win in 235 starts but put the likes of US Open champion Angel Cabrera in the shade as the players battled terrible conditions at the Dublin club.

Playing the back nine holes in 32, including chipping in for two at the par-three eighth, Lafeber finished a shot ahead of England's Robert Rock, India's Jyoti Randhawa, France's Gregory Havert and Sweden's Niclas Fasth.

"It's very tough," Lafeber said. "As soon as you go in the rough you're going to be plugged or in a really deep lie and struggling to get on the green.

"It's really a grind, but lucky enough I played well and the greens are fantastic."

The difficult conditions were reflected in the organisers decision to reduce par from 72 to 70.

David Howell and Colin Montgomerie had to settle for rounds of 69, five behind the leader, while Angel Cabrera, Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley sit a further two shots back.

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