Dyson bogey-free as he leads in Moscow

SIMON DYSON produced a bogey-free round to sit among three players tied for the lead on the opening day of the M2M Russian Open at Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club near Moscow yesterday.

The Englishman, tipped as the pre-tournament favourite, shot a five-under-par 67 that included five birdies yesterday, putting him at the head of the field alongside Swede Rikard Karlberg and China’s LiangWen-chong.

It continues a return to form for Dyson, who made just seven cuts in his first 15 events of 2013 but then finished fifth in the Alstom Open de France and tied 12th in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open on his last two appearances to climb to 81st in the Race to Dubai.

“That was as good as I have played for a long, long time,” Dyson said.

“I don’t want to say I am disappointed with five under because you can never be too disappointed with that, but it could have been a lot better because I missed a few real good birdie chances and left a few shots out there today.”

“But, as I said, I am not going to get too down on myself because I played so well out there today and I just can’t wait to get back out there now because I am feeling good.”

Five Scots are taking part, with Callum Macaulay top scoring with a 72 — one better than Scott Henry and Chris Doak.

Alastair Forsyth carded a 74 whiloe Craig Lee is two further back after scoring 76.

Dyson’s compatriots Matthew Baldwin and James Morrison, Javier Colomo of Spain and Italian Alessandro Tadini all went round in 68 to lie one off the lead.

Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden, who shot 77, managed a hole in one on the 220-yard 16th.

Selected first round scores (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72):

67 — Simon Dyson, Rikard Karlberg (Swe), Wen-Chong Liang (Chn)

68 — Alessandro Tadini (Ita), Javier Colomo (Spa), Matthew Baldwin, James Morrison

69 — Matthew Nixon, Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Matteo Delpodio (Ita), Mikko Korhonen (Fin), Sam Little, Mark Foster

70 — Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Michael Campbell (Nzl), Daniel Gaunt (Aus)

71 — Robert Rock, Chris Lloyd

72 — Jorge Campillo (Spa), Callum Macaulay

73 — Scott Henry, Simon Wakefield, Richard Finch, Christopher Doak

Getty. Simon Dyson on his way to a first round 67.