ZANDVOORT, Netherlands

(Reuters):

Briton Andrew Coltart equalled the European Tour's record for nine holes when the Scot came home in 27 shots in the Dutch Open first round yesterday.

Coltart's run of seven birdies from the turn, in a round of 65 that left him a stroke off the lead held by Japanese Taichi Teshima and Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, was also one less than the tour's record birdie-run.

It is the first time the 1999 Ryder Cup man has shown on the leaderboard for four years after going into a slump. He missed the cut in his last seven events and in 10 of his last 11.

"It has been a hard few years but that's not through lack of trying," Coltart told reporters. "It's nice to see your work get some results for a change. And it's nice to have some fresh memories instead of holding on to old ones."