Bogey-free Nilsson leads Russian golf open

MOSCOW, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Christian Nilsson turned in a seven-under-par 65 Thursday and has a one-stroke lead after the first day of the Russian Open Golf Championship.

Jean-Baptiste Gonnet shot a 66 at the Le Meridien Moscow Golf and Country Club course and is in second place. Sam Little and Gary Murphy were tied for third at five-under 67. Some 25 golfers were within five shots of Nilsson's lead.

Rain caused a two-hour delay in play and darkness brought another stoppage with 15 golfers still to finish their opening rounds.

Nilsson had seven birdies and no bogeys on his round and finished before the storms hit.

He started Thursday's round on the back side and used birdies on the two par-5 holes to make the turn on two-under. He beat par on three consecutive holes from 2-4 and finished with birdies on his last two holes.

On his final hole, Nilsson blasted from a fairway bunker to about 25 feet form where he made the birdie putt to get to seven-under.