England's Benn Barham grabbed seven birdies and a memorable eagle to open up a one shot lead after the first round of the Austrian Open on Thursday.

The 33-year-old's eight under par 63 equalled the lowest round of his career as he enjoyed a slender advantage over Scotland's Scott Drummond and Brett Rumford of Australia.

Barham's eagle two came on the 423 yard 13th, where his 150 yard approach pitched just past the flag and spun back in.

"I couldn?t quite see it drop, but the people around the green were shouting and waving so I knew it had gone in," he said.

"I've been playing well the last four or five weeks, so this is not a freak round."

Rumford led the European Masters in Switzerland two weeks ago after a first round 62, but fell back to 32nd there.

His 64 was bogey-free, while Drummond had four successive birdies on the front nine and after a bogey on the 14th had three more in a row.

Ryder Cup player Soren Hansen, the highest ranked player taking part, carded a four under 67, one better than 1999 Open winner Paul Lawrie and France's Jean Van de Velde, runner-up to him at Carnoustie.

Double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal had to be content with a 70.