WORCESTERSHIRE'S John Bickerton fell one short of equ-alling the course record with an eight-under-par 63 to lead the French Open by two shots.
The Droitwich golfer came storming through a pack of players with five birdies in his final seven holes to overtake 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell, who minutes earlier had posted the clubhouse lead at six under.
Starting on the back nine, Bickerton had three birdies in a row from the 11th with his longest putt being just 15 feet to turn in 32.
At the 563-yard third he was in trouble off the tee and had to chip out with a lob wedge but then holed a long birdie putt after hitting a five iron to 30 feet. He picked up more shots at his next two holes, one from 25 feet and another from 12, before he closed with back-to-back birdies -- signing off in style at the last with a magnificent 20-footer.
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