KLM Open: Fabrizio Zanotti in hospital after being hit by ball

Fabrizio Zanotti of Paraguay is tended to by a doctor and a paramedic after being struck with a ball

Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti was taken to hospital after being hit on the forehead by a wayward tee shot from Alexandre Kaleka during the first round of the KLM Open in the Netherlands.

The world number 97 was on the 16th fairway when he was struck by the Frenchman's drive off the 14th.

Play was suspended for nearly two hours as the 31-year-old received treatment.

Tournament director Miguel Vidaor confirmed Zanotti was later given the all clear and discharged from hospital.

Dutch defending champion Joost Luiten and Scotland's Jamie McLeary shared the opening round lead at Kennemer on the outskirts of Amsterdam on five under par.

Ryder Cup player Thomas Bjorn and vice-captain Miguel Angel Jimenez were off the pace on one over.

Following Zanotti's injury, fellow players Felipe Aguilar and Ricardo Gonzalez accompanied the Paraguayan to hospital and also withdrew from the opening round.

Starting on the 10th, Zanotti was level par when he was struck after six holes of his first round.

Chile's Aguilar, who was in the group behind Zanotti, was also level when he withdrew while Argentine Gonzalez - a further group back - was two over.

KLM Open director Daan Slooter said: "Unfortunately, there was not an ambulance on site, as requested by the European Tour.

"We took the decision not to have one because the first aid provision was capable of dealing with an incident like this, and indeed any other medical emergency.

"The hospitals nearby and the ambulance system in Holland could respond quickly if further assistance was required, and indeed the ambulance responded within the parameters of Dutch law.

"In light of what happened with Fabrizio, we now have an ambulance on site for the remainder of the tournament."

Zanotti has enjoyed comfortably his best season on the European Tour, lying 27th in the Race to Dubai prior to the start of the tournament.

He was forced to regain his Tour card after a poor 2013 season, but became the first Paraguayan to win on the European Tour when he claimed his maiden title at the BMW International Open at Gut Lärchenhof in June.