Manassero ties Andalucia course record

ANDALUCIA, Spain, March 15 (UPI) -- Matteo Manassero tied the course record Thursday in taking the first-round lead at the European Tour's Andalucia Open in Spain.

Manassero had nine birdies and a bogey in an 8-under-par 64 at the Aloha Golf Club.

Five players are tied for second at 5-under. That includes Niclas Fasth, who had three bogeys including one on his final hole Thursday, and Anthony Wall, had eight birdies against a bogey and a double bogey.

Also at 5-under are Eduardo de la Riva, who had one bogey, Otto Hennie, after a bogey-free round, and Lloyd Kennedy, whose round included an eagle and a bogey.

Manassero played the back side at Aloha first and opened with a birdie. After four consecutive pars he closed the side with three birdies in a four-hole span.

He had three more birdies over Nos. 3-6 but had a bogey at the seventh hole.

Manassero dropped an 18-foot putt for birdie at the eighth hole and pitched to within 7 feet for a birdie opportunity at the 343-yard ninth hole to tie the record.