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After long frost delay, Dredge leads European Masters
 
Sep. 6, 2007

CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland (AP) -- Bradley Dredge began his title defense Thursday by shooting a 5-under 66, taking a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Omega European Masters on the European Tour.

EUROPEAN TOUR
OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS
Dates: Sept. 6-9
Location: Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland
Purse: $2.7 million
Venue: Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Alpine Course
Par: 71
Yards: 6,857
Defending Champion: Bradley Dredge

Eduardo Romero, Mikko Ilonen and Marcus Fraser each shot 68s on the par-71 Alpine Course at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

Frost delayed the start by about 2 hours, and 44 players did not complete their rounds. They are scheduled to resume Friday morning.

Dredge, a Welshman who won the European Masters by eight strokes last year, eagled the par-4 sixth hole, where his 120-yard wedge shot spun back into the hole.

"It seems to suit me here," Dredge said. "I managed to hole a lot of putts in the 10- to 12-foot range when I had to. I went through a round where I didn't waste a shot today. It's not often you can say that."

Of the five members of the 2006 European Ryder Cup team in the tournament, Robert Karlsson had the best start with a 69. Paul Casey and Lee Westwood shot 71s, while Darren Clarke and David Howell had 75s.

Tadd Fujikawa, the 16-year-old from Hawaii, did not finish his round. He was 5 over through 15 holes with three birdies and eight bogeys.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved.