Colm Moriarty carded five birdies in his opening 12 holes to set the early pace on the opening day of the Saint-Omer Open presented by Neuflize OBC.
The Irishman, among the first players out this morning in Lumbres, signalled his intent with a birdie three on the first hole, before repeating the feat on the sixth.
A four on the par five ninth saw Moriarty, who celebrated his 31st birthday last week, reach the turn on a three under par 33, and two birdies in three holes to begin the back nine extended his fine start.
He held a narrow advantage over England’s Matt Haines, who followed up an eagle on the 500 yard ninth with a birdie on the 10th to move to within one shot of Moriarty.
Joakim Backstrom, Andrea Maestroni and Carlos del Moral were a shot further adrift on three under par.
Swede Backstrom carded birdies on the ninth and 10th to stay within touching distance of the leader, but Maestroni, the Italian, topped that with three successive birdies to complete his outward nine.
Spain’s del Moral, who began his round on the 10th, also managed three birdies, while English pair Lloyd Kennedy and Paul Eales and Frenchmen Ghislain Rosier and Michael Lorenzo-Vera were well placed at two under.
