Five tied for first at Dunhill Links Championship

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Richard McEvoy, despite two bogies Thursday, joined five players sharing the lead at 8-under-par 64 at the European Tour's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

McEvoy had an eagle and eight birdies to go with his two bogeys. He's tied with Alexandre Kaleka, Tom Lewis, Mark Tullo and Oliver Wilson for the first-round lead.

But it's crowded at the top. Another five golfers are at 7-under and 10 more are just two strokes off the lead.

The tournament is played on three courses -- the Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Each player has a round at each course. The event wraps up Sunday at St. Andrews.

None of the leaders played Thursday at Carnoustie, which is considered the toughest of the three courses. Jamie Donaldson, one of those at 7-under 65, had the best round of the day at Carnoustie.

McEvoy, Kaleka and Tullo started on the back nine at St. Andrews Thursday while Lewis and Wilson were at Kingsbarns, which is seen as the easiest course.

McEvoy had three birdies in his first five holes before a bogey at No. 17. Birdies at Nos. 1 and 3 preceded a bogey at 4. He closed with three birdies and an eagle at the par-4 ninth.

Tullo and Kaleka were both bogey-free Thursday. Tullo posted seven birdies in a nine-hole span while Kaleka had a string of four straight birdies over Nos. 13-16.

Wilson was 2-under through 10 holes but had an eagle at the par-5 third hole in a fast finish. Lewis had seven birdies and bogey before a 16th-hole eagle pulled him into the tie for first.