Home favourite Victor Dubuisson was part of a four-way tie for the lead when the first round of the Alstom Open de France was completed on Friday morning.
After storms disrupted play on Thursday, 42 players had to return early the following day, and by 08.45 it was Dubuisson, Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello, South Africa’s Jaco Van Zyl and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger sharing top spot on three under par.
Max Kieffer resumed his first round on the 15th hole at four under, but after a good par save on the 16th, the German bogeyed the 17th and dropped another two shots on the 18th after hitting his approach in the water to fall back to one under.
On Thursday, World Number 37 Dubuisson made a steady start before three birdies on the way in propelled him up the leaderboard.
“I had a really unlucky bogey on 14 with three good shots, and then the most difficult holes were coming – 15, 16 and 18,” he said.
“I managed to stay calm and make a really good birdie on 18. On this course, it can turn really bad, and what I did today was very good especially with all this pressure.
“I’m very pleased. I feel the expectation and a little bit of pressure from the crowd, because I especially want to do well for them, more than in other tournaments."
This one is like a Major for me.
Victor Dubuisson
Wiesberger has had five top tens this season including runner-up finishes in Malaysia and Ireland, and is chasing his third European Tour title.
“I played okay,” he said. “I was not driving it great early on, and I scrambled around and had a couple of four and five footers for par. But the chances I had, I took nicely. I was just those two hiccups on the last, the three putt and not getting up and down from beside the green on the ninth.
“In general, given the windy conditions early on, I’m quite happy with that. I think it's just a great test overall. From the first hole to the last, you're under pressure and you need to hit really good shots to make birdies.”
Van Zyl, who had an impressive bogey-free round on day one, said: “It’s one of those golf courses where there are a couple of holes you can score on, but you can never really let your guard down.
“One day I’ll be hitting it nicely and the putter is not behaving, and the next day the putter is behaving but I’m not hitting it as well. I’m just waiting for it all to come back in one piece and then hopefully it will be a good week.”
Two-time Major winner Martin Kaymer opened with a 69, while Graeme McDowell, who is chasing his third consecutive victory in the €3million event, signed for a 72.
