Hansen leads first-round Mercedes-Benz with 65

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COLOGNE, Germany (AP) -- Soren Hansen of Denmark shot a 7-under 65 Thursday to take the lead after the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Hansen, who won the event at the Gut Laerchenhof course two years ago, had five birdies, including three on the front nine, and eagled the 13th to take a one-stroke lead over Chris Wood of England.

Wood spent much of the day in the lead, but Hansen finished with a par on the 18th to stay ahead at the end of the day.

Four players were tied at 5 under -- David Drysdale of Scotland, Ross Fisher of England, James Kingston of South Africa and Scott Strange of Australia.

On an overcast and windy day, the two highest-ranked golfers in the field of 78 -- No. 6 Henrik Stenson of Sweden and No. 10 Lee Westwood of England -- were in a group of 15 at 70.

Bernhard Langer of Germany, seeking to become the oldest winner on the European tour at age 52, had a double bogey five on the fourth hole but still finished at 1-under 71.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who is without a top-10 finish since June last year, bogeyed the second and finished the day at even par.