EUROPEAN TOUR SAINT-OMER OPEN:SWEDEN'S FREDRIK Andersson Hed believes if he can maintain his ball-striking consistency he has a good chance at the Saint-Omer Open in northern France.

The 37-year-old carded six birdies in a blemish-free 65 to lead by one from Australian duo Michael Curtain and Tony Carolan in the dual-ranking European and Challenge Tour event.

He was almost caught by Carolan but the Australian bogeyed his penultimate hole – the 389-yard eighth – and only a birdie at the last lifted him back up to within one.

Curtain also dropped a shot on the eighth but he made amends with an eagle at the 500-yard next to turn in 33. Three birdies and one bogey on the back nine lifted him to five under.

“I only hit a couple of bad tee shots all day, and even managed to get away with them,” said Andersson Hed.

“I just hope I can keep going for all four rounds this week.

“I’ve been striking the ball well lately.

“Even though I missed the cut on the Challenge Tour in Ireland last week the game’s definitely there or thereabouts at the moment.”

At three under are Spain’s Carlos Del Moral and Surrey’s James Morrison, who did not drop a shot in his round of 67.

“It’s important to play well this week, because it’s like a major championship for the Challenge Tour guys,” he said.

“It’s all about peaking at the right time, and I’ve made a good start.”

Last year’s runner-up Christian Nilsson shot three birdies to reach three under.

However, the in-form Robert Coles, who has won twice on the Challenge Tour already this season, had something of a disaster.

He was three under through seven but a double-bogey six at the eighth signalled a run of 11 holes in which he dropped seven shots and picked up just one birdie.

A hole in one for Clodomiro Carranza at the 191-yard 17th hole earned the Argentinian a Renault Twingo.

Johnny Caldwell and Simon Thornton, who both went around in 73, were the best of the Irish players.

Michael McGeady was two strokes back on 75, while Colm Moriarty shot a round of 76.