ATZENBRUGG, Austria, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- George Coetzee birdied his first four holes Thursday in taking a 1-stroke lead after the first round of the European Tour's Austrian Golf Open.
Coetzee had eight birdies and a bogey en route to a 7-under-par 65. Jose Manuel Lara and Terry Pilkadaris each shot 6-under 66 and are tied for second while Damien McGrane (67) is in fourth.
Pilkadaris had birdies on three of his last four holes Thursday to get close to Coetzee while Lara was tied for first until a bogey at No. 18.
Coetzee, playing the back side of the Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg, Austria, first Thursday, was 4-under after four holes and added a birdie at No. 16 before the slip at the 18th hole.
He had three birdies in a four-hole -- Nos. 4-7 -- span on the front side in getting to 7-under.
