FOREST OF ARDEN, May 6: England's David Howell found himself the first round leader of the British Masters on Thursday thanks to a sparkling six-under 66.

It put the 29-year-old one shot ahead of a chasing pack made up of Scotland's Andrew Coltart, Kenneth Ferrie, Trevor Immelman, Michael Campbell and Argentine veteran Eduard Romero.

It was a flawless round, Howell going out in three-under and coming home in three-under and not a bogey in sight.

First round scores

66 - David Howell

67 - Kenneth Ferrie, Andrew Coltart, Eduardo Romero, Michael Campbell, Trevor Immelman

68 - Maarten Lafeber, Brian Davis, Raphael Jacquelin, Jarrod Moseley, Stuart Little

69 - Caesar Monasterio, Paul Marantz, Miguel Angel Martin, Robert-Jan Derksen, Soren Hansen, Carlos Rodiles, Stephen Gallagher, Martin Maritz, Nick O'Hern

70 - Jean-Francois Remsey, Sandy Lyle, Darren Clarke, Miles Tunnicliff, Charl Schwartzel, Terry Price, Anthony Wall, Angel Cabrera, Paul McGinley, Thomas Levet, Simon Wakefield, Alastair Forsyth, Darren Fichardt, Peter Hedblom. -AFP