Eamonn Darcy ran on pure emotion yesterday to find something extra-special in a week he has planned as his swansong to the European Tour this year.

On his way to shooting a four-under-par 67 to take a share of the lead in the Lancome Trophy in Versailles, the 46-year-old veteran campaigner's thoughts were rarely on his game.

They lay with his friend Christy O'Connor Jnr, mourning the death of his son Darren last week.

Darcy took a share of a five-way tie for the lead with Derrick Cooper, Miguel Jimenez, Stephen Allan and Greg Turner. It was as if he were proving that veterans such as himself and O'Connor could still rise above the cream of Europe - and America for that matter here - even though the years are catching up with them.

What made yesterday's vintage performance all the more poignant was that Darcy's playing-partner Howard Clark, had O'Connor's caddie on his bag. It was hardly surprising that Darcy found it hard to concentrate but he dug deep enough to fashion the lead.

Said the Druids Glen professional: "I was thinking about my old pal all the way round. I felt very sad on my way round the course, particularly so because I partnered Howard Clark and he had Christy's caddie Brian Smallwood on the bag today. Only a little while ago Brian told me Christy would definitely win within the next month on the seniors. And now this. It's such a tragedy for the family."

It was not just because of his feelings for his great companion that Darcy performed heroics yesterday to produce his most accomplished round for a long time in the event he at the moment, intends to be his final one of 1998.

Not only did Darcy have to overcome emotion, a tendency to hit right on his drives as he has since the Irish Open, and hope his putting style by courtesy of Ian Woosnam did not fail him, he had to go into work without having a full massage on a stiff back.

As first man out on the course, Darcy was forced to put the alarm on for 5 a.m. and he arrived at the course at 6.30 a.m. - to find himself alone with the birds!

Explained Darcy: "I wanted to get some breakfast but the clubhouse was closed down. I guess the French are just not early star ters. And I'd arranged to see the tour physio at 7 a.m. So everything got put back. In the end I only had time for 10 minutes massage on the back. But it was just enough.

"If it were not for the physio unit I wouldn't be playing any day, let alone today, because I need the treatment and I could never afford a private masseuse out on tour with me. Half-an-hour with the physio is worth more than hours on the range."

But Darcy did spend time on the range the night before, too. This was to cure something of a slice. He ironed that out but still had to modify his stance.

After getting the better of the early long holes at St Nomla Breteche, the work was all worthwhile as Darcy made up for a bogey on the fourth when his five-wood approach caused his ball to just drift back off the green. He chipped to three feet for his opening birdie on the sixth and then went to the turn two-under by pitching in from about 30 yards out on the par-five eighth.

A solid back nine included two birdies in the middle of it and Darcy's save on the last from the awkward greenside bunker was definitely vintage.

Added the Delgany professional: "Ian Woosnam helped me with my putting during the Christy O'Connor Pro-Am in Irish Open week, but I haven't been driving well since about the same time. I was still hitting the ball way right, so I decided to play with a fade today. It meant I couldn't hit the ball so far on the big holes at the start of the round, but I kept the ball in play. That was the important thing."

His accuracy kept him well ahead of the big guns in Versailles, such as Mark O'Meara, the double-major and defending champion having to settle for a 70. Colin Montgomerie shot 69 and Lee Westwood 70 to also lag behind and that can only be good news for the absent Darren Clarke over the order of merit race.

It proved an enigmatic day for the rest of the Irish scoring. Paul McGinley was happy with his 71, announcing himself 75 per cent fit after his worrying neck injury. Raymond Burns did well to bounce back from four opening bogeys for a 73. Philip Walton, though, double-bogeyed the 18th for his 73. Padraig Harrington's slump continued with a 74, a score matched by Des Smyth.

Darren Clarke will play his second World Matchplay Championship next month. Tournament organisers are to invite all the current top five players in Europe to play at Wentworth, where world number one Tiger Woods, doublemajor champion Mark O'Meara, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh are the four seeds.