Friday 30 June 2017 19:19, UK
Paul Waring upstaged a world-class field to grab a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Open de France.
The Englishman posted four birdies in a five-hole stretch on his way to a seven-under 64 at Le Golf National, lifting the world No 279 two clear of the chasing pack.
Thomas Pieters is part of a three-way tie for second after matching the five-under 66 posted by early pacesetters Nathan Kimsey and Alexander Bjork, with Tommy Fleetwood and Peter Uihlein a further stroke back.
Top seed Alex Noren opened with a two-under 69 and Jon Rahm lies five off the pace, while defending champion Thongchai Jaidee opened with a one-over 72.
One of the afternoon starters, Waring surged into a surge of the lead by following a front-nine 33 with a birdie-two at the 11th and another gain at the par-four 13th.
Waring grabbed the outright advantage with a 10-foot birdie at the 14th and doubled his cushion with another at the next, before closing his bogey-free round with three straight pars.
Kimsey recovered from an opening-hole bogey to birdie five of his next six and add another at the par-three second, before cancelling out a blemish at the fourth with a gain at the ninth - his final hole.
Bjork matched Kimsey's effort after a blemish-free card, with Fleetwood also not dropping a shot on his way to getting to four under.
Defending champion Thongchai Jaidee opened with a one-over 72 to join Chris Wood, Andrew "Beef" Johnston and Ian Poulter six off the pace, while Darren Clarke props up the leaderboard following a bogey-filled 84.
This week's event is the latest in The Open Qualifying Series, with three players in the top 10 and ties who aren't already exempt for next month's major booking their spot at Royal Birkdale.
Watch the Open de France throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Friday from 9.30am.
