Fraser, Zanotti share lead at BMW Open

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COLOGNE, Germany, June 21 (UPI) -- Marcus Fraser and Fabrizio Zanotti each closed strong Thursday in tying for the lead at the European Tour's BMW International Open in Germany.

Fraser had five birdies in his final six holes while Zanotti, who had a double bogey and two eagles, ended his play Thursday with back-to-back birdies in shooting 8-under-par 64.

Paul McGinley and Danny Willett each had five birdies and an eagle to keep within one stroke of the leaders at 7-under. They were joined at that score by Chris Wood, who had nine birdies and two bogeys Thursday.

Four golfers are tied for sixth at 6-under and six more are knotted at 10th at 5-under.

Fraser played in the morning group and opened with a birdie. He was 3-under after 12 holes but then ran off four consecutive birdies and closed his round with a birdie at No. 18.

Zanotti, teeing off in the afternoon, played the second nine of the Golf Club Gut Larchenhof first on Thursday and had a pair of birdies and eagles at 13 and 16 -- both par 5s -- but fell back with a 6 at the par-4 18th hole.

Zanotti had three birdies in his first five holes of the front nine before a bogey at the par-5 sixth hole slowed him. He moved into a share of the lead with birdies on 8 and 9.