Swede makes Fasth start

Fasth and Stadler set early pace in Shanghai after matching 64s

Last updated: 8th November 2007

fasth niclas

Fasth: Share of the lead

I holed two putts in my first two holes and three under through two doesn't happen every day.

Niclas Fasth
Quotes of the week

First-round leaders:
N Fasth -8
K Stadler -8
V Singh -5

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Swede Niclas Fasth grabbed a share of the first-round lead at the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai after shooting a superb eight-under-par 64, matched only by American Kevin Stadler.

One of the early starters in this the first event of the 2008 European Tour season, the Swede was off and running in sensational fashion following a birdie at the first with an eagle at the second.

He then kept his momentum going with six further birdies.

Stadler was in equally impressive form and raced through the front nine in just 30 shots with a mixture of six birdies and three pars.

A bogey did follow at 11, but he picked up shots at 13, 14 and 16 to ensure he headed to the clubhouse on level terms with Fasth.

It was a day when plenty of big names gravitated towards the top of the leaderboard with Vijay Singh moving into third spot on his own, three shots back of the leaders on five-under.

Meanwhile, behind the Fijian, world number two Phil Mickelson, US Open champion Angel Cabrera, Open champion Padraig Harrington, world number 11 KJ Choi and European Ryder Cup star Paul Casey are amongst eight players to have gathered on four-under.

Fasth, who returned only one bogey during his memorable round, was understandably delighted with his start to the $5 million (£2.5 million) tournament.

Putting well

"It was a good score. I was playing well and putting well, it's a great start to the tournament," said Fasth.

"I holed two putts in my first two holes and three under through two doesn't happen every day. I was hitting perfect shots to make birdies and eagles and, when you hit good shots, it really sets you off on the right foot and I just kept playing well."

However, it did not prove quite such a productive day for all the big-name Europeans with Sergio Garcia and Colin Montgomerie both only able to manage 73s (+1).

That was, though, some way better than last season's French Open champion Graeme Storm who endured a nightmare debut at the event with a miserable seven-over-par 79.

Elsewhere, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood all carded opening scores of 70 to stand at two-under.