Lucquin, Finch co-leaders in Cologne

COLOGNE, Germany, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- France's Jean-Francois Lucquin and England's Richard Finch shot 6-under-par 66 to share the first-round lead at the European Tour's Mercedes-Benz Championship.

The pair has a one-stroke lead over Sweden's Robert Karlsson (5-under 67).

Lucquin, last week's winner in a two-hole playoff at the European Masters, continued his hot streak Thursday with birdies at three of the first holes at the Gut Larchenhof golf course in Cologne, Germany.

"It's unbelievable, since last week, it's like a dream," Lucquin told reporters. "The course is perfect, lots of good players, and today I just played my game and it was perfect."

Finch's round included three opening birdies, seven in all, but two bogeys and three closing pars kept him from gaining the outright overnight lead.

England's Ross Fisher is fourth at 4-under 68, with Sweden's Peter Hanson and South Africa's James Kingston tied for fifth at 3-under 69.