Teshima equals record to lead Dutch Open

ZANDVOORT, Holland, Aug 23 (Reuters) Japan's Taichi Teshima equalled the Kennemer course record six-under 64 to take the early Dutch Open first-round lead today.

Twice US Masters winner Bernhard Langer's 17-year-old son Stefan, on his European Tour debut, got close to a much less prestigious record with a 98 -- equalling the second worst score recorded on the European Tour.

Rookie Teshima recorded a 64 for the second time this year, to head Swede Alex Noren, former event winner David Lynn and Steve Webster of Britain by a stroke.

The 38-year-old Japanese leader, battling to move to safety for his card from current 146th on the European money-list, is anxious to follow up with a better second round this time, however.

''I shot 64 in Italy (Italian Open), eight-under, but then followed up with a 77 and missed the cut by one,'' Teshima, who has won five times on the Japanese tour, told a news conference.

''Hopefully I can put that right now. I've had several good starts but not been able to follow them up.'' Fickle weather in Europe has hindered Teshima's progress in his first year, but he is determined to stick it out and win a card for another year.

''I thought I could do better but I've missed too many cuts, which is something I didn't do in Japan,'' he said.

''We don't get a lot of wind in Japan and the rough is very different over here.

''I am determined to make my card, but I know I have to play well in every tournament I have left, to do that.'' Six birdies on an unblemished card kept him in front of Noren, who boosted his season with a tied fifth in last month's Players Championship, 2004 winner Lynn and 2005 Italian Open champion Webster.

Amateur Langer ran up a seven-over 12 and included two triple-bogeys and four double-bogeys as he equalled the second-worst score recorded on the European Tour.

A raking 40-footer for par on the last gave the youngster some encouragement but he still finished 31 strokes behind his father.

Reuters BJR GC1928