A closing bogey forced South African Brandon Stone to settle for a first round 69 on Thursday at the Open de France.

Stone, playing the course in reverse, quickly moved to two under, thanks to birdies at the 10th and 12th holes, before getting within two of the lead with another a birdie on 17.

A bogey on the par four 18th saw him give one shot back and make the turn in two-under 33. In difficult scoring conditions, the two-time European Tour winner moved back to -3 with a birdie on the par 5 third, before five successive pars saw him arrive at his last hole, the par 5 9th, two behind Sweden’s Alexander Bjork and Nathan Kimsey.

Unfortunately for the big-hitting South African, he made a six to drop into a share of eighth place, with, among others, Martin Kaymer and Alexander Levy.

Earlier, countryman George Coetzee fired a round of 68 that included two bogeys and five birdies – two of those coming on par 3s. Coetzee’s fine start puts him only two shots behind surprise first-round leader Alexander Bjork and Nathan Kimsey.

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