MOSCOW, July 25 (UPI) -- Rikard Karlberg overcame a two-bogey start Thursday and is among the leaders at the European Tour's M2M Russian Open.
Karlberg recovered from bogeys on his first two holes with five birdies and an eagle for a 5-under-par 67. Liang Wen-Chong and Simon Dyson are also at 5-under.
Matthew Baldwin, Javier Colomo and Alessandro Tadini are tied for fourth one stroke off the pace and six more players are at 3-under after the first round.
Liang had six birdies against a 12th-hole bogey for his share of the lead while Byron was bogey-free in the first round.
Karlberg's round was much more adventurous. After opening with bogeys at Nos. 1 and 2 he had back-to-back birdies at 6 and 7 to get back to even. He elected to play up on the 564-yard, par-5 eighth with his second shot. His wedge shot landed about 12 feet past the hole and spun back in for eagle.
He added a trio of birdies on par-4 holes, including on the 448-yard 18th.
