Binaghi takes a one shot lead

Italian Alberto Binaghi took full advantage of an 11th hour invitation to the French Open, crashing the party by taking a one-shot lead in Thursday's opening round.

Binaghi, invited on Tuesday to compete, lost his card last year and has made seven visits to the tour school in all.

But it all came good at Le Golf National as he made 11 single putts and seven birdies, four in succession from the 12th, to edge a stroke in front of Spaniards Francesco Cea and Fernando Roca with a six-under-par 66.

Five players are a further stroke back, local hero Jean Van de Velde, Australians Peter O'Malley and Stephen Allan, Swede Jarmo Sandelin and Denmark's Soren Hansen.

European number one Colin Montgomerie was frustrated after another indifferent round, a 71, which left him five strokes off the lead.

Binaghi celebrated his luck at getting into the event - and his best round of the year.

"The Italian Federation had one invite and Massimo Florioli would have got it but he was reserve. I found out on Tuesday that he was in and so was I," said the 35-year-old Italian.

"This is my best round this year. I've played four events and made four cuts but never finished very high.

"If I finish second or third I might win enough to keep my card but I will not have an exemption for this year, so I'll have to wait for some more invites.

"If you give me top three I will take it. I've been inspired by all the first time winners this year and when you see people who have been struggling for years like me, it can help your confidence."

Van de Velde is bidding to be the first Frenchman to win the event since Jean Garaialde in 1969 and he delighted his gallery.

After birdying the last with a solid shot across a lake for his 68, he could have been forgiven for thinking back to Carnoustie last year when his missed approach caused the triple bogey which eventually led to his play-off defeat by Paul Lawrie in the British Open.

"On 18 it was a bit across and into the wind," said the Frenchman. "The island is huge but it looks so small with a big swimming pool in front of it."

Montgomery missed yet another makeable birdie putt on the last and spent several hours practising in the afternoon.

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