Lucquin leads the Spanish Masters

MADRID, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Jean-Francois Lucquin shot 7-under 65 Thursday to take the lead after one round of the European Tour's Spanish Masters Golf Tournament in Madrid.

The Frenchman has a one-shot lead over Darren Fichardt of South Africa and Spain's Miguel Angel Martin.

European Ryder Cup member Padraig Harrington of Ireland shares fourth place with Joakim Backstrom of Sweden, Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina, and England's Gary Orr and Ian Poulter at 5-under 67.

England's Darren Clarke -- competing for the first time since the death of his wife, Heather, from cancer last month -- is tied for ninth with defending champion Raphael Jacquelin of France and five others at 4-under 68.

"I played well," Clarke said. "I missed a lot of chances and played really well. With a warm putter I would have been an awful lot lower."

Jose Maria Olazabal shot 1-under 71 to share 48th place with 20 others.