Coetzee and Fox one ahead in Paris

South Africa’s George Coetzee and Ryan Fox of New Zealand share a one-shot lead on -6 after round one of the Open de France. Coetzee, 33, managed seven birdies and just one bogey in his round, while Fox returned a similar card after the first 18 holes at Le Golf National. The duo are one stroke clear of a trio of players, with Scotland’s Richie Ramsey, Benjamin Herbert of France and American Kurt Kitayama all on five-under par, while seven players signed for a four-under-par 67 in Paris. They included Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts and South African pair Darren Fichardt and Justin Walters, while 12 players reached -3 after day one. Two-time major winner Martin Kaymer plus Englishmen Jordan Smith and Chris Paisley are in the bunch three off the lead. In truth, it is not the strongest of fields for a European Tour event and a trio of home hopes sit on -2. Alexander Levy, former Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson and Jerome Lando Casanova will all be hoping to maintain their challenge over the next three days to give the crowd something to cheer about.