Versailles, Sept 12: Retief Goosen leads the Lancome Trophy by one stroke after shooting an eight-under-par 63 in the first round. Goosen bogeyed the last after bunkering his approach, but a scintillating run of an eagle and five birdies took him a stroke clear of Swede Mikael Lundberg and two better than Briton Simon Wakefield on Thursday (September 11). Goosen, the 2001 and 2002 European number one, won the Versailles trophy in 2000 but allowed a big lead to melt away over the closing holes in the final round a year later to hand the title to Sergio Garcia. The 2001 U.S. Open champion pitched in at the short third hole, his 12th, but his most spectacular feat came at the long eighth when he hit a four-iron over 200 yards to just four feet for his eagle.

Goosen, admitting his play had been affected by the birth of son Leo this year, lies only 19th in this year's European money-list and agreed a third order of merit might be beyond him with compatriot Ernie Els well placed at the top of the list.


Goosen's playing partner Padraig Harrington, three places above him in the world rankings at ninth, carded a 68. Second placed Mikael Lundberg showed his determination to keep his card, having slipped to 143rd on the money-list, with eight birdies.


Two players sharing fourth place after rounds of 66 captured holes-in-one within the space of 15 minutes. Spain's Carlos Rodiles aced the seventh and Australian Terry Price achieved the feat at the 12th. Ireland's Paul McGinley and Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts also shot 66.


Colin Montgomerie, despite finding water at the last to bogey, outdid playing partner Ben Curtis, the British Open champion playing for the first time in Europe since his Royal St George's success, with a 68 to the American's 69.


Montgomerie, whose club manufacturer Hogan has been taken over by Callaway, was playing with Callaway irons, a Taylormade driver, a Ping putter and Hogan ball, able to use what he likes while the conditions of his contract are in the hands of lawyers.


Leading first round scores in the 1,800,000 euros Lancome Trophy at the par-71 Saint-Mon-la-Breteche course on Thursday (Britain unless stated): 63 Retief Goosen (South Africa) 64 Mikael Lundberg (Sweden) 65 Simon Wakefield 66 Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium), Paul McGinley (Ireland), Terry Price (Australia), Carlos Rodiles (Spain) 67 Jorge Berendt (Argentina), Peter Fowler (Australia), Marcus Fraser (Australia), Mark Pilkington, Ian Poulter, Zane Scotland 68 Richard Bland, Markus Brier (Austria), Andrew Coltart, Sebastien Delagrange (France), Robert-Jan Derksen (Netherlands), Jamie Donaldson, Bradley Dredge, Kenneth Ferrie, Darren Fichardt (South Africa), Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Maarten Lefeber (Netherlands), Santiago Luna (Spain), Damien McGrane (Ireland), Mark McNulty (Zimbabwe), Colin Montgomerie, Titch Moore (South Africa), Jarrod Moseley (Australia), Eduardo Romero (Argentina), Brett Rumford (Australia), Charl Schwartzel (South Africa), Erol Simsek (Germany)


Bureau Report