Miguel Angel Jimenez leads KLM Open after first round by one stroke

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands -- Nearly two decades after winning this tournament for the first time, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain took the lead on the opening day of the KLM Open on Thursday, taking advantage of relatively benign conditions to shoot a 6-under 64. 

The 1994 champion, Jimenez had two bogeys and eight birdies, including holing a wedge from 40 meters at the 16th for birdie followed by another birdie on the 18th to give him the outright lead at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club. 

Jimenez, the oldest player in the field at 49, said he would like to add another Spanish name to the trophy come Sunday. 

"Seve's first win on the European Tour was here in 1976, and Jose Maria (Olazabal) also won here in 1989, so hopefully I can win here, too. That would be fantastic," he said. 

Robert Allenby and Gary Orr were among a group of six players one back on 5 under on the Dutch North Sea coast. 

Scotsman Orr said he enjoyed playing on the seaside course. 

"Kennemer's special," he said. "It's a real old-style golf course. You've got to put it in the right spots on the fairways and especially the greens. But I like the challenge, it's a pleasure to play courses like this."