McLean ahead at Dunhill Championship

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Alan McLean carved up a soggy Houghton Golf Club course Thursday with a 7-under-par 65 for a share of the first-round lead at the Dunhill Championship.

Day-long rains failed to deter McLean, who did not suffer a bogey. Anders Hansen of Denmark and Marcel Siem of Germany also shot 65s.

McLean finally earned his European Tour card last year after his fifth attempt at qualifying school, a task made easier by a loan given to him by some friends.

Thursday's bogey-free round marked some redemption for Hansen, who blew a two-stroke lead in the final round of last week's SAA Open won by Trevor Immelman of South Africa.