Richard Green and Graeme Storm share a one-shot lead following the opening round of the Alstom Open de France.
Both men shot six-under-par 65s on Thursday to edge ahead of a trio of players on five-under, while world number four Martin Kaymer, the pre-tournament favourite, once again failed to make an impact at Le Golf National.
Green was quickly into his stride with successive birdies at the third and fourth, before another at the ninth saw him make the turn in 33, one ahead of Storm who birdied three and five. Both men birdied the 10th and picked up further shots at 12 and 13, but Green continued that run at the 14th to open up a two-shot lead over the Englishman heading to the 17th. However, there was mixed fortunes for the pair at the par-four hole as Green bogeyed and Storm birdied, and they both parred the final hole to end the day level at six-under.
South African George Coetzee should have ended the day in front after making seven birdies over his first 14 holes. But Coetzee, who finished tied for third at last week’s BMW International Open, found the water at the 15th and went on to bogey the hole before dropping another shot at the 17th, meaning he finished the first round in a share of third place with Thorbjorn Olesen and James Morrison.
Kaymer, meanwhile, made three birdies and three bogeys in a disappointing even-par round that left him six shots adrift of the top two alongside Ryder Cup winning captain Colin Montgomerie.
