Date: August 24, 2007
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Kiwis looks good at KLM

Jean-Baptiste Gonnet and Taichi Teshima have taken an early lead at the KLM Open but, for the Australasian contingent, it was the New Zealanders carding better scores than the Aussies on the first day at Zandvoort. Starting from the 10th tee, Frenchman Gonnet and Teshima from Japan both set up their impressive first day scores of six-under 64 through superb starts along the back nine. Gonnet looked convincing to begin with, posting five birdies along the back nine before turning along the front for another two. But, when the Frenchman bogeyed the seventh, he ended up level with Teshima, whose round included four birdies along the back nine. The two players lead a six-strong group that is one stroke behind having scored five-under 65s, including New Zealand&aposs Michael Campbell. Campbell turned for home at even par, but five birdies on the back nine saw him take his place at equal second, where he is alongside England&aposs Andrew Coltart, who equalled the lowest nine holes in European Tour history by carding seven birdies coming home. It was an eventful day all round in the Netherlands, though, as 17-year-old Stefan Langer, son of Bernhard, posted a 28-over, the third-highest score on the Tour ever. Aside from Campbell, for the rest of the Australasians, it was New Zealand&aposs Steve Alker who took the honours, having carded a four-under 66 to be one stroke behind Campbell. For the Aussies, Terry Pilkadaris and Andrew Tampion did the best and are still in contention at three-under, although Pilkadaris did come home with a wet sail, recording two birdies on 17 and 18 to rise up the leaderboard. David Bransdon is one stroke further back on two-under after posting five birdies on the back nine to help him recover from a dreadful start, which saw him double bogey the first hole. Matthew Millar is also at two-under after carding 68, one stroke ahead of Wade Orsmby and Brett Rumford, while Terry Price, Matthew Zions, Scott Strange and Andrew Hastie are further back in the field. First Round of the KLM Open (par 70) -6 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet 64, Taichi Teshima 64 -5 Michael Campbell 65, David Carter 65, Andrew Coltart 65, Thomas Levet 65, David Lynn 65, Alexander Noren 65, Steve Webster 65 -4 Steve Alker 64 Also: -3 Terry Pilkadaris (Australia) 67, Andrew Tampion (Australia) 67 -2 David Bransdon (Australia) 68, Matthew Millar (Australia) 68 -1 Wade Ormsby (Australia) 69, Brett Rumford (Australia) 69 E Terry Price (Australia) 70 1 Matthew Zions (Australia) 71 2 Scott Strange (Australia) 72 9 Andrew Hastie (Australia) 79