Open de France: Ryan Fox and George Coetzee tied at the top on day one
Ryan Fox and George Coetzee both fired six-under 65s to share the first-round lead at the Amundi Open de France near Paris.
With tournament golf returning to Le Golf National for the first time because Europes memorable Ryder Cup victory 54 months ago, Fox and Coetzee ended day one with a one-shot lead over a group such as Richie Ramsay, however defending champion Alex Noren faces a struggle to make the cut after a erratic 72.
Coetzee made the most of the great scoring conditions in the first session, while he also defied the distraction of visiting playing-partner and 2012 winner Marcel Siem disqualify himself after the front nine when he was advised he would incur a 10-shot punishment for lifting and putting his ball twice, mistakenly believing preferred lies were in operation.
The South African birdied the first two holes made three in a row from the first time, ahead of his only bogey of the day in 17 cost him the lead, and he also even picked up further shots at the 10th and 15th.
Jordan Smith appeared to exceed Coetzee when he birdied the first six holes made the following at 10 before mistakes hampered him melts the stretch, and Fox proved the player from the subsequent starters to arrive at six under.
Fox, son of All Blacks legend Grant, restricted an outward 31 with four birdies in five holes after devoting a birdie at 12 with his solitary blemish in the next, he got back into a share of the lead with a different good putt on the 16th green.
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The Kiwi gave himself a chance of an eighth birdie of the round after he knocked his second in the last eight feet, but he let too much break and had to settle for a tie on top together with Coetzee.
Ramsay carded six birdies against a single dropped shot on his 66 that was solid since he looks to cement his place at the area for its Turkish Airlines set next month, the Scot arriving in Paris ranked 60th in the Rush to Dubai.
Ramsay shares third with 2012 Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts back after the Belgian closed a 67 out along with his fifth birdie of the day in the run.
Smith was on 59 alert soon after famous placing coach Phil Kenyon tweeted that he wouldswim the channel naked to congratulate anyone breaking 60 in Le Golf National.
The Englishman was under after 10 and needed five birdies over the last eight holes to provide a massive predicament to Kenyon, because he ran up a triple-bogey seven, but his struggle unravelled in the 13th.
While Noren at least enjoyed a conclusion to a day on his own return to the spectacle of Europe win over Team USA this past year smith erred again at the 17th and parred the last to rounded off a disappointing 68.
Noren pinpointed the last putt of that competition from 50 feet to spark scenes of wild jubilation, but the Swede was far less euphoric when he slipped into three around with five to play with until lifting his spirit when he pitched in for a morale-boosting eagle at the long ninth.
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