Ireland's David Higgins carded a flawless 65 to share the lead after the first round of the St Omer Open.

Higgins recorded four birdies and an eagle to finish six under par, alongside Australian David Bransdon.

Another Australian, Simon Nash, is in third on five under with England's Danny Denison among a large group on four under.

Denison, 22, who qualified for the Open at Hoylake last year while still an amateur, was one shot off the lead after the first round of last week's Austrian Open before fading.

Higgins picked up birdies at the third and eighth holes before an eagle on the par-five ninth took him to the turn in 32.

The 34-year-old from Waterville, ninth in Vienna last week after a closing 65, also birdied the 10th and 17th to come home in 33.

Bransdon's score was built around a great scoring burst on the back nine, the Australian picking up five birdies in a row from the 11th.

France's Jean-Francois Remesy surprisingly struggled to a 75, four over par, just four days after contesting a play-off in Austria.

Remesy, who lost out on the first extra hole to Australian Richard Green, carded five bogeys and just one birdie.

And Swede Michael Jonzon, third at Fontana Golf Club on Sunday, fared even worse, crashing to an 82 which featured just one birdie, seven bogeys, one double bogey and a triple bogey.

Of the other Irishmen in the field Stephen Browne fared best with his level par 71 while Michael Hoey could only manage a three over 74.