Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal overcame a lengthy rain delay to shoot an eight under par 64 on Wednesday to take the clubhouse lead in the first round of the Austrian Open.

He shot four birdies and an eagle to reach six under after 12 holes when play was suspended for almost four hours. When play resumed, he added two more birdies to equal the course record.

When darkness caused play to be suspended for the day, Dane Thorbjorn Olesen was hot on his heels, closing on seven-under after 14 holes.

Frenchman Thomas Levet and Dutch player Wil Besseling were another shot further behind when darkness fell.

England's Oliver Wilson and Scotland's Alistair Forsyth hit 68s, while reigning champion Kenneth Ferrie of England was par after 14 holes.

Former world number one tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov - who is taking part in his second EPGA event - shot a 75 and outscored two former champions: 2006 winner Markus Brier of Austria hit a 76 and Jose Manuel Lara of Spain, the 2010 champion, shot a 78.

Golf 365