WORCESTERSHIRE golf ace John Bickerton was two shots off the lead after the first round of the Novotel Perrier French Open in Paris.

The Droitwich player shot a three-under-par 69, including five birdies, to stay within touching distance of joint leaders Colin Montgomerie, France's Jean-Francois Reme-sy and Sweden's Marten Olander.

Hereford's David Park and Jeremy Robinson, from Evesham, were down the field after two-over-par rounds of 74. Park's hopes were wrecked by two successive double-bogeys at the 13th and 14th.