Bourdy leads Iberdrola Open after setting new course record at Pula GC

A course-record 63 on Thursday earned Frenchman Gregory Bourdy a one-shot lead at the end of the first round of the European Tour’s Iberdrola Open.

Bourdy, a three-time winner on the European Tour and a runner-up at the Maybank Malaysian Open last month, fired nine birdies with bogeys at the 15th and seventh the only lowlights of the day for the 29-year-old at Pula Golf Club.

England's Danny Willett was second, with a bogey-5 at the 12th the only thing preventing him joining Bourdy in a share of the lead.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, who won the last of his 12 European Tour titles in 2008, was third following a 5-under-par 65.

"It's always great to hold a course record. It's very nice on tour to get a score like this,” said Bourdy. "I made nine birdies, only two or three mistakes, but it was a wonderful day."

Clarke, the star of Europe's emotional Ryder Cup triumph at the K Club in 2006 and a vice-captain in the 2010 success at Celtic Manor, has dropped to a world ranking of 124. But after following two birdies with two bogeys in his opening four holes, he concluded his round with five more birdies to put himself right in contention for a first tournament victory since winning the KLM Open in 2008.

England's Matthew Nixon joined Clarke in a share of third place thanks to two birdies on his final three holes.

Welshman Rhys Davies was a shot adrift in fifth after a 66, with England's Chris Wood, Scotland's Scott Jamieson, Argentina's Cesar Monasterio and South African Jaco van Zyl tied for sixth after 67s.

Colin Montgomerie, the 2010 Ryder Cup-winning captain, had a round to forget with a 7-over-par 77, but his successor Jose Maria Olazabal stayed in contention with a 1-over-par 71.