SHANGHAI, April 19 (UPI) -- Raphael Jacquelin birdied two of his last three holes in firing a six-under-par 66 for the first-round lead at the BMW Asian Open golf tournament in Shanghai.
The tournament is the final Asia stop this year for the PGA European Tour. Next week the tour opens the European section of its schedule with the Spanish Open in Madrid.
Jacquelin, who led last week after 36 holes before fading to a sixth-place finish, had a total of seven birdies and one bogey in Thursday's play. He owns a one-stroke lead over Soren Kjeldsen. Gregory Havret and Lee Sung-man were tied for third at four-under 68 and six golfers were at three-under.
Jacquelin's only flaw on the day was a bogey at the par 4 sixth hole but he got that back with a birdie at the par 3 eighth and made the turn at two-under. His back nine was even better. He birdied No. 10 and 13 and closed by beating par at 16 and 18 for his 66.
Kjeldsen got as low as six-under-par with three birdies in four holes from Nos. 11-14. But, after three pars, he had a bogey 5 at the closing hole to fall into second place.
