DROITWICH golfer John Bickerton faces a battle to beat the cut after a nightmare six-over-par start to the Madeira Open in Santo da Serra.

His round started with a bogey and a double bogey seven at the par five third compounded his problems. Birdies at two other par fives gave Bickerton some respite but his 78 left him tied in 130th place, 14 shots behind leader Brad Kennedy of Australia.

His eight-under-par 64 gave him a three-shot lead over Sweden's Magnus Persson who was one ahead of a group of six tied for third place.