Anders Hansen eagled his 17th hole for a 7-under 65 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the European Open. The 38-year-old Dane holed a difficult chip for a three at the 563-yard eighth hole to move ahead of early leaders Peter Hanson of Sweden and Thomas Aiken of South Africa. Sam Little of England and Jyoti Randhawa of India also finished with 66 to make it a four-way tie for second. “I've learned lately that I have to stay patient,” said Hansen, who started his round at the 10th. Hanson, meanwhile, said his play was boosted by the hole-in-one he made in a playoff Monday to help him grab the last European spot in next month's US Open. Aiken, a 25-year-old South African, made six birdies on his last nine holes after getting a late invite to the event on Monday. Aiken holed from 30 feet for birdie at the sixth, but his best shot was a 5-iron to one foot at the 187-yard seventh hole. Some of the big names struggled, as former US Open champion Michael Campbell had a quadruple bogey 9 on his third hole on the way to an 80. Henrik Stenson had two sevens in four holes and shot a 4-over 76, while defending champion Ross Fisher struggled to a 73 - 10 strokes off his first-round 63 last year when he won by seven strokes. Irish Open champion Shane Lowry, who is playing his first event as a pro after winning 11 days ago as an amateur, shot a disappointing 6-over 78. Sergio Garcia, the runner-up last year, double-bogeyed his first hole but then had a run of birdie-birdie-eagle on his second nine to finish with a 69. Graeme McDowell bogeyed four of his first seven holes but still shot 70.
