DROITWICH'S John Bickerton and David Park of Hereford were in 56th place after recording level par first rounds of 72 in the British Masters at the Forest of Arden club near Meriden.

Bickerton had three birdies and three bogeys in a fairly uneventful round, but Park endured a real roller-coaster ride. A double-bogey six at the 16th spoiled a score peppered with six birdies.

Meanwhile, Nick Faldo's hopes of a record 12th Ryder Cup cap, seven years after his 11th, suffered a further setback today.

An early bogey in his second round of left the 46-year-old four over par -- 11 strokes behind new leader Trevor Immelman and in severe danger of missing another half-way cut.

South African Immelman took advantage of the birdie chances on offer at the third and fourth to move to seven under, one in front of overnight pacesetter David Howell.

The Swindon golfer was among the later starters at the Warwickshire club along with Bickerton and Park.