R1 LEADERBOARD -7 A Cabrera (Arg), R-J Derksen (Ned), B Rumford (Aus) -6 P Archer, T Bjorn (Den), D Griffiths, P Hedblom (Swe), D Howell, M Lafeber (Ned), J-F Lucquin (Fra), I Poulter, G Storm (GB&I unless stated)

The trio fired seven-under 65s to lead nine players, including Thomas Bjorn, David Howell and Ian Poulter, by one.

England's Luke Donald and Welsh duo Ian Woosnam and Bradley Dredge ended the day in a logjam on five under.

American John Daly and Ireland's Paul McGinley were in a large group on four under at Nord-Eichenried.

More than 50 players were within four shots of the lead, including Ireland's Padraig Harrington on three under.

I could never match Daly for driving Angel Cabrera

But defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez had to birdie the last three holes just to card a two-over 74.

Donald, the world number 15, shrugged off a double bogey on his first hole, the 10th, on his way to a 67.

"It's obviously not the start I wanted, but I knew there were a lot of birdie holes out there," he said.

"At 472 yards it's probably the hardest hole on the course and not the easiest to start on, but you shouldn't be making double bogey from the middle of the fairway."

The Ryder Cup star, without a win this year, played his last six holes in five under with an eagle and three birdies.

"Apart from missing a couple of short putts it was a pretty good round," added Donald, who will defend his European Masters title in Switzerland next week.

Donald started with a double bogey in his 67

Big-hitting Cabrera was dismayed to be outdriven by playing partner Daly.

"I could never match Daly for driving," said Cabrera, the Wentworth PGA Champion, after collecting an eagle and seven birdies to outweigh two dropped shots.

"I was 20-30 yards behind him. The only time I did outdrive him was at my first hole and I bogeyed it.

"But I felt very confident with my driving and also my putting."

Poulter played the last six holes of his final round in six under last year to clinch the final Ryder Cup automatic qualifying place.

But the Englishman, who is vying with McGinley and Howell for the last two World Matchplay spots next month, said he would not leave qualification for the K Club in 2006 so late.

I always used to look at what the cut was going to be but you need to aim higher than that England's Phillip Archer

"It won't come down to the last tournament this time," said Poulter.

"I want to be there and I'd love to have it sorted by the end of year. I'm not saying I'm going to, but it is possible.

"The tournaments are big enough now where if you do play well enough you can make a massive dent in it.

"It would take a lot of pressure off. There were three or four of us last year jostling for spots in the Ryder Cup, and that's not a nice position to be in."

England's Phillip Archer, meanwhile had a chance to join the leaders but three-putted the par-five 18th to stay at six under.

The 33-year-old from Warrington is 122nd on the Order of Merit and needs to finish the season in the top 115 to avoid an 11th visit to the qualifying school in 12 years.

"It's in the back of your mind - but I'm trying not to think about it," said Archer.

"I always used to look at what the cut was going to be. But you need to aim higher than that, and the money list will take care of itself."