Bristol's Chris Wood posted a bogey-free round of 66 to take an early lead at the German Open.

On a course that has seen rounds of 60 and 61 in the past, England's Chris Wood again showed what was possible in Cologne.

The 21-year-old, fifth in the Open as an amateur last year and third at Turnberry in July, had six birdies in his first 15 holes at Gut Larchenhof.

And that gave Wood a one-shot lead over South African James Kingston in the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Seen by some as a dark horse for next year's Ryder Cup team, the 6ft 5in Bristol golfer was only two under at the turn but then had a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th and added another on the long 15th.

Kingston eagled there and birdied the next to be alone in second place, while Scot David Drysdale stood third on his own at four under after three successive birdies from the 12th.

Lee Westwood, who opened with a 61 on his last visit two years ago, and Henrik Stenson, the two highest-ranked players in the elite 78-man field, were in the very last group to tee off. Other late starters included Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer.

The early pace had been set by Welshman Stephen Dodd, part of the first group out and four under after 10 holes.

Then came a three-putt bogey on the short 11th, however, and, after chipping in two holes later, he found a bunker at the 195-yard 16th and dropped another shot.

He did well to avoid another at the last. A drive into the right-hand rough took the green out of range but he then pitched to five feet, saved par and signed for a three-under 69.

"Conditions were just perfect and I think there's a good score out there," he said. "I feel like I left a few on the course and it was a bit disappointing in that respect.

"But that was better. My form's suffered over the last six or seven years for whatever reason. It comes and goes and if we knew the reason why we would all be millionaires."

It did not escape Dodd's notice that his 2005 World Cup-winning partner Bradley Dredge was second last week when the Ryder Cup qualifying race started in Switzerland.

The first match on Welsh soil is still more than a year away and the 43-year-old, only just inside the world's top 200, commented: "It's not really at the forefront of my mind.

"But, possibly, after a few good results, maybe it will be. I think goals are there to be achieved – you have to have something to strive for."