Backstrom sets course record to take early lead at Italian Open  MILAN, Italy (AP) -- Joakim Backstrom shot a course-record 10-under 62 Thursday in the first round of the Telecom Italia Open, coming within one stroke of matching the lowest round on the European Tour this season.
The 29-year-old Swede broke the Castello di Tolcinasco course record by one stroke and leads Markus Brier (63) by one and Taichi Teshima (64) by two. "I had a 62 in practice last week, but that's my best round in a tournament," Backstrom said. Chapchai Nirat had the year's lowest round when he shot an 11-under 61 on his way to winning the TCL Classic in China in March. Defending champion Francesco Molinari shot a 67, and Tom Lehman shot a 70 that included an eagle from 165 yards. Lehman played on a special invitation in the same group as Molinari. Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. |
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