Strange leads in Sweden after frantic dash to tee

ARLANDASTAD, Sweden, Aug 16 (Reuters) Scott Strange was told he was in the Scandinavian Masters only 45 minutes before his tee-off but the 30-year-old Australian's frantic dash to the tee paid off with the early first round lead.

Strange defied his unnerving start by posting a six-under 64 which earned him a one-shot lead over surprise Swedish contender, 21-year-old amateur Fredrik Qvicker, and Britain's Sam Walker.

Strange, unable to play a practice round before taking on Arlandastad because his clubs had been lost in transit, came in from first reserve when Briton David Drysdale, scheduled to be in the first group out, pulled out early in the morning.

Cashing in on his good fortune, Strange, who was first reserve only because entries went down to his 149th finish last year which cost him his tour card, took on Drysdale's caddie, birdied the first hole and hardly looked back.

''I was sitting on the bus coming to the course when I got a phone call at 6.45 a.m. telling me I had 45 minutes to get here for my tee-time,'' Strange told a news conference.

''As soon as she said that, we ran into a traffic jam. At 7.21 I was the flash that went through the car-park to the tee.

''It was an amazing round considering how flustered I was and I'm surprised I did it, because there was a lot going on in my head.

LOST CLUBS ''My clubs had been lost and turned up too late for me to practise and I could only walk the course.

''My second shot of the week was a seven-iron, not the crispest but the ball ran up to a couple of feet and I was away. David's caddie was good; he helped clarify my thoughts.'' Strange is on the brink of regaining his card, lying 117th on the money-list, with the top 115 assured of playing rights, and is poised to make his luck count.

Second-placed Qvicker was also fortunate in making the tournament, coming in as an invitee after failing to qualify.

He upstaged a strong Swedish contingent, including tournament promoter Jesper Parnevik, by running in five birdies after the turn on a blemish-free card.

Parnevik carded 70, six shots off the lead, while American invitee John Daly and holder Marc Warren of Britain could manage only 72s.

REUTERS BJR PM1845