Sweden's Christian Nilsson leads the Open de France in Paris by one stroke after the opening round on Thursday (local time).
Nilsson fired a six-under 65 at Le Golf National, enough to give him a slender lead over Englishman Gary Boyd, Italian Matteo Manassero and Thai Thongchai Jaidee.
The leader – who has not finished in the top 30 of a tournament in 2012 - fired four birdies in a six-hole stretch from the third to the eighth and although he hit a bogey on the ninth, responded with another three birdies on the back nine.
"I'm very happy," Nilsson said after the day's play.
"It's been a struggle this year for me so far, so I really needed this score today, and especially on this tough course. It's good for my confidence.
"I think the course plays quite tough even though it's calm conditions and beautiful weather, but still a tough course. I'm really pleased with six under par.
Boyd hit five birdies – three of which came on the first four holes – in a blemish-free 66 while Manassero also avoided any mistakes in his round.
Jaidee, who hit an eagle on the par-five third, would have had a share of the lead if he had avoided making a bogey on the penultimate hole.
England's David Lynn, Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Italian Federico Colombo are in a tie for fourth at four under, two shots off the lead.
A group of seven players – English duo Steve Webster and Paul Waring, German Marcel Siem, Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, Swede Henrik Stenson, Indian Jeev Milkha Singh and South African Tjaart Van Der Walt – are one shot further back in a tie for eighth.
Marcus Fraser fired two birdies in a one-under 70, which leaves him as the best-placed Australian in a tie for 21st.
Andrew Dodt and Robert Allenby are a shot further back in a tie for 42nd while Matthew Zions (one over), Brett Rumford (two over) and Richard Green (three over) did not enjoy successful rounds.