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MARBELLA, Spain (AP) -- European Tour qualifying school graduate Matthew Zions of Australia shot a 7-under 65 Thursday and took a one-stroke lead over Spaniard Alejandro Canizares after the first round of the Valle Romano Andalucia Open.

The Denver, Colo.-based Zions, who completed all three stages of the European Tour's qualifying school last year, had eight birdies and lone bogey on the 6,881-yard Aloha Golf Club course on the Costa del Sol.

"I putted well, something I hadn't done recently," the 28-year-old Zions said. "I'm working with psychologist Bob Rotella and he's helped me a lot."

Canizares had a bogey-free day, with five of his six birdies coming in the first seven holes.

He was a stroke ahead of a group of five: Chris Gane and Gary Lockerbie of England, Joakim Haeggman of Sweden, Louis Oosterhuizen of South Africa and Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

Fernandez-Castano was 7 under through 12 until bogeys at Nos. 13 and 18 dropped him back while Oosterhuizen and Gane both eagled the 510-yard, par-5 No. 5.

Haeggman survived an attack from an angry goose on the 18th hole Thursday.

"I slapped him right in the face!" the Swede said. "He wanted to have a go at me so I had no choice. It's the first time I've ever had to slap a goose on a golf course."

The bizarre incident occurred next to the lake on the left of the fairway, but Haeggman maintained his composure to save par from the back of the green.

European Ryder Cup teammates Paul McGinley and Lee Westwood had to settle for rounds of 71 and 72, respectively, Westwood throwing his putter at his bag several times in frustration at his continuing poor form on the greens.

Haeggman lost his card last season after a serious shoulder injury and missed the cut in seven of his eight events so far this year before arriving on the Costa del Sol. But he made use of some very local knowledge by using local resident and former European Tour professional Olle Karlsson as his caddy.

"It makes a nice change to get a good round under my belt," said Haeggman, the first Swede to play in the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in 1993. "I haven't been driving the ball well and not putting up to my usual standards, and that's a pretty lethal combination.

"But it was good to have Olle on the bag, he was always telling me 'don't aim away from the flag, it's only a wedge,' and it worked," he added. "He lives here now, he even walked to the course this morning, and he's played it a million times so that helped a lot."

Haeggman carded seven birdies and two bogeys while playing partners Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez -- whose company is staging the event -- recorded rounds of 71 and 72, respectively.

For Bjorn, a 71 was a welcome return after doubts about his form and fitness.

The Dane had missed the cut in two of his last three events since an encouraging 11th place in the WGC-CA Championship in Miami in March, and then injured his wrist in a fall while giving a television interview at home in England.

The cast was only taken off on Saturday and the 36-year-old had just this week to find some form ahead of the defense of his Irish Open title next week.

"I played really well apart from two bad drives on the first and second," said Bjorn, who recorded four birdies, one bogey and one double bogey. "I also three-putted the last when I got a bit greedy, but there was a lot of good golf out there today.

"The wrist was a little bit stiff this morning, but I need to get it warm this week because I'm not sure it's going to be so warm next week."

Leader Zions is one of just six players to have earned his card by coming through all three stages of the qualifying school last year.

"It was a fun putting day," he said. "It's been a cause of frustration in the last few events. I've been spending a lot of time over my putts, thinking too much about it. But today I felt comfortable, didn't take too long and the putts were going in.

"For the last three years I tried to get my card on the U.S. Tour, but never made it past stage two of the qualifying, so thought I'd come over here and give it a go," he explained. "I needed to two-putt from about 100 feet on the final hole at St. Annes Old Links to make it through the first stage. The green is about 48 yards long and I won't forget that hole in a hurry."

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