Cheetham in lead with six others

ENGLAND’S Neil Cheetham, 37, was one of seven golfers sharing the lead after the first round of the Aa St Omer Open having carded a three-under-par 68 in northern France.

Cheetham birdied his last two holes to force himself into contention early on and on a blustery day no-one could better his score.

Having turned in 33, he dropped a shot at the 12th after driving behind a tree and another at the 13th.

South African Hennie Otto three-putted his last two greens to finish bogey-bogey and surrender what would have been an outright lead at five under.

He was joined at the top by Frenchman Raphael Eyraud, Swedish duo Per G Nyman - not to be confused with the other Per Nyman - and Martin Erlandsson, Belgium’s Julien Clement and Iceland’s Birgir Hafthorsson.