Sweden''s Edfors and Lundberg make early Abu Dhabi running

By Viren Varma

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Swedish pair Johan Edfors and Mikael Lundberg defied a freak hailstorm to card rounds of 66 and seize the early initiative in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Thursday.

The duo lead by one stroke from Oliver Fisher (England), Francesco Molinari (Italy) and Jarmo Sandelin (Sweden), who completed five-under rounds of 67.

South Africa''s Louis Oosthuizen and Spaniard Ignacio Garrido were also five-under after 16 and 15 holes respectively after bad light suspended play for the day.

World number two Sergio Garcia was three-under after 14 holes when play was halted. The Spaniard made a strong start to be five-under after 10 holes, but successive bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes halted his charge.

Defending champion Martin Kaymer shot a four-under 68 while triple major winner Padraig Harrington fired a 71 on a day when the high-intensity hailstorm held up play for more than an hour.

"One under is okay and if I keep shooting under par all year, I will be okay," Harrington said.

Edfors was pleased with his round after dropping just one shot.

"I gave myself many good birdie opportunities and made a few putts. Unfortunately, three putted a couple of times on the back nine, he said. "I am really happy with the way I am playing. So, it feels good."

His compatriot Lundberg played a bogey-free round which included four birdies on the front nine. "I am very pleased with my effort considering the fact that I haven''t played since the second week of November," he said.

Fellow Swede Henrik Stenson, winner of the Sun City Challenge in South Africa last month, stumbled to a disappointing 76 after taking a seven on the par four 16th.

(Editing by Justin Palmer)