Scotland's Raymond Russell is probably wishing the suspension to play, due to poor light, on day one of the British Masters at the Forest of Arden course outside Coventry could have taken place 15 minutes earlier than called. Just prior to play being officially halted the 25-yearold Edinburgh-born Russell tied a European tour record with eight straight birdies to take the lead in the stirring £750,000 tournament.

But when a siren sounded at 6.40 p.m. calling golfers to stop play, a little of the shine had gone from the young Scot's scoring feat.

A drive into a hazard at the 470yard, par-four ninth resulted in two dropped shots, which sent him tumbling back to six under par - one behind England's Mark Roe, who finished with a seven under par 65.

But take nothing away from Russell. Eight one putts in eight holes, two from 30 feet and three from less than a foot, is the brand of golf weekend golfers can only dream of.

Russell joins an elite class of just six players in European tour history who have holed eight straight birdies, the last being American Mark O'Meara, last year in the Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews. "I tried not to think about what I was achieving," said Russell. "It was a very strange feeling but I didn't feel what was going on. I don't keep records but I certainly haven't done anything like this before - either eight birdies or a 30 for the front nine."

Trying his utmost to match Russell was Eamon Darcy, who birdied four of the first five holes including the first three, to finish at four under after seven holes. "I holed a great putt at the first and just did the same at the next two," said Darcy. "The greens are running pretty true and the way they have got the course set up seems to suit my game, so I'm just pleased to get the start that I have." Darcy, along with 77 other players, will return to the course at 7.30 a.m. to complete their first round.

Darren Clarke will be out chasing early birdies when his second round finally gets under way. Clarke, who finished with a one under par 71, struggled for most of the round, particularly with his bunker play and his performance on the Forest of Arden par fives. "I'm playing quite well and hitting the ball as good as I've hit it all year but there were times today, like when I was in a bunker, that the ball would be up against the face of the bunker," said Clarke.

It was playing the four par fives where Clarke lost ground to his rivals. He was three over for the par fives, finding water at the 543-yard, par-five 12th, whilst at the last of the fives, the 511-yard 17th, he pulled his drive into trouble and could only manage to move his next shot six feet.

Clarke then flew the green with his third and missed his par-saving putt from five feet.

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn leads the eight Valderrama bound Ryder Cup players competing in the British events. The Dane was three under after 12 holes with Clarke next best with his 71. Ryder Cup rookie, Lee Westwood of England, was heading for the weekend off, six over par after 11, while Spain's Ignacio Garrido, was three over after 12.

Colm Montgomerie was one over after 12 along with Italy's Costantino Rocca (after 11).