Dougherty, Hanson, Linhart lead Sweden's SAS Masters

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STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- Nick Dougherty holed a 142-yard wedge shot for eagle Thursday on his way to a 4-under 66 and a three-way tie for the lead in the first round of the SAS Masters.

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Nick Dougherty's hole-out for eagle helped him on his way to a share of the lead.

England's Dougherty, runner-up in this European PGA event last year, was tied with Peter Hanson of Sweden and Pedro Linhart of Spain after a wet and windy round at the Arlandastad course north of Stockholm.

Dougherty didn't have a bogey, and his wedge shot went straight in on the par-4 12th hole for the shot of the day.

"It's been a long while since I've had a round with no bogeys," said Dougherty, who missed the cut at last week's PGA Championship with rounds of 77 and 82. "I had plenty of them last week, that's for sure."

Hanson had six birdies but began with a bogey and had another one on the short 18th, his ninth hole.

"It was a good score," Hanson said. "It's always nice to get one early in a tournament."

Linhart, who, unlike his co-leaders played in the afternoon, had seven birdies and three bogeys.

Robert Karlsson, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 21, tied for 69th with a 2-over 72.

The Swedish Ryder Cup player, who had top-20 finishes in all four majors this year, has played this European PGA event every year since 1991.

"It's important for Swedish golf to be here," he said.

Other world-class Swedes such as Henrik Stenson and Carl Pettersson skipped the tournament.

Two-time former champion Jesper Parnevik, the last Swede to win the event in 1998, shot 68 and shared 11th.

Parnevik, the tournament's player-manager, played well despite a late night out with sponsors.

"I only slept two hours, so it was tough to get up early in the morning," he said. "But I'm very pleased. It was tough out there today with the wind."

Defending champion Mikko Ilonen of Finland shot 70.

American D.J. Trahan -- among the leading candidates for one of Paul Azinger's captain's picks for the Ryder Cup team -- shot 73.