Sport

Struver finds some of his old form

Madeira Open: SVEN STRUVER leads South African Hennie Otto by one after a six-under-par opening round of 66 in the Madeira Islands…

Fri Mar 21 2008 - 00:00

Madeira Open:SVEN STRUVER leads South African Hennie Otto by one after a six-under-par opening round of 66 in the Madeira Islands Open at Santo da Serra yesterday.

The 40-year-old German, who won the last of his three European Tour titles 10 years ago and has had to go to the qualifying school each of the last four seasons, had seven birdies and dropped his only stroke at the 386-yard 18th, his ninth.

"I got ahead of myself a little bit at the end and it shouldn't really happen, but on the other hand I haven't been in this position for a long time," he said.

"It is one of those golf courses where anything can happen. I was lucky today - I had a few good bounces, but that is the way that golf goes and you have to take advantage."

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Struver's career, which includes wins in the 1996 South African PGA Championship, 1997 Dutch Open and 1998 European Masters, has been in decline since the turn of the century, but he began this season hoping to regain former glories.

A tied ninth finish in the Joburg Open gave the son of Hamburg golf professional Jochen a reminder of what he used to be capable of, and his round in Madeira, achieved in wind and rain, left him craving more success.

"Playing in the last group out in the final round in South Africa this year showed me I can still compete," Struver said. "I had a little sniff then and I want more. I'm not happy finishing down at the end of the field. This is a good start."

Otto, who in January eagled the final hole to come through the African qualifying event for July's British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, is trying to regain his European Tour card, and five birdies in a six-hole stretch at the start of the front nine did the 31-year-old a power of good.

Frenchmen Gregory Bourdy and Michael Lorenzo-Vera - last year's Challenge Tour number one - and Swedes Peter Gustafsson and Fredrik Widmark share third place.

Peter Lawrie had four bogeys in a three-over-par 75 that left him in a tie for 80th and with work to do today to make the cut.

Favourite Bradley Dredge, for whom a second win in the event would take him back into the world's top 50 a week before the cut-off for the Masters, had to settle for a two-under 70.

American Notah Begay, given a medical extension this season after suffering back trouble, is among the group on 71.