Pieter Moolman takes one-shot lead at Czech Masters after blistering finish

Pieter Moolman ended with six consecutive birdies to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the D+D REAL Czech Masters, with a six-way tie for second spot.

Following a delayed start of 90 minutes after early-morning storms in Prague, South African Moolman shot an eight-under-par 64, finishing with a flourish that was sparked by sinking an 11-foot putt on the par-five 13th.

"I expected the back nine to be the tougher nine, but you know, golf’s a funny game," Moolman, who was only one under at the turn, said on the DP World Tour website.

"The front nine is a bit open, you can bomb it a bit. The back nine is the tougher one where you have to really hit some good shots, give yourself good opportunities."

England's Brandon Robinson Thompson – who won last week’s Scottish Challenge tournament – could have also sat top of the leaderboard, but for a costly bogey on the 18th.

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An overhit bunker shot saw him take a free drop from the hospitality tent and, after dropping his only shot of the day, end with seven-under-par round.

"I hit it right down the middle, fatted it into the bunker and then if it didn’t hit the grandstand, I think it would have gone 100 yards over the green," said Robinson Thompson, who carded 31 over the front nine with three birdies and an eagle.

"Dropped it out the VIP tent and then holed an 18-footer. Kind of pleased with that finish, but also a bit annoying – but it is what it is."

Scotland’s Richie Ramsay was also in a tie for second, a bogey at the seventh his only dropped shot, alongside Swede Jesper Svensson, Sung Kang of South Korea as well as German duo Max Rottluff and Max Kieffer.

It was a tough opening round for Irish dup Gary Hurley and Tom McKibbin.

Hurley sits on two-over par