Four share lead at Wales Open golf event

NEWPORT, Wales, June 4 (UPI) -- England's Nick Dougherty and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn birdied the 18th hole Thursday to grab a share of the lead after one round at the Wales Open.

Dougherty, Bjorn, South Africa's David Frost and Canada's Alan McLean all shot 5-under-par 66 on the Twenty Ten Course at the Celtic Manor Resort golf course in Newport, Wales, the site of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

McLean made it a four-way tie when he also birdied the 18th late in the round.

Frost, the clubhouse leader, had birdied 18 and was spurred by earlier birdies at the seventh, eighth, 10th and 11th holes.

Three others -- Spain's Pablo Larrazabal, Dutchman Taco Remkes and Paraguay's Fabricio Zanotti -- all shot 4-under 67 and share fourth place, while a group of 12 is 3-under 68, tied for ninth.

Defending champion Scott Strange shot 1-over 72 and is tied for 63rd place, while last weekend's winner at the European Open, France's Christian Cevaer, withdrew because of fatigue.

Among the golfers entered are the 2010 Ryder Cup captains -- Corey Pavin for the United States and Colin Montgomerie for Europe.