Hansen closes gap on Van de Velde

Denmark’s Soren Hansen closed in on overnight leader Jean Van de Velde when the French Open finally got back under way this morning.

Halted by a thunderstorm at 3.30pm yesterday Hansen resumed on four under par after six holes.

After a birdie on the ninth to turn in 31 he started the inward half with another to join England’s Jonathan Lomas in second place just a stroke behind.

Van de Velde, whose opening 64 matched the lowest round of his European tour career, was not the only home player off to a good start in their bid to emulate Jean-Francois Remesy last year.

Christian Cevaer stood four under after 12 holes to be three ahead of playing partners Paul McGinley and Stephen Dodd.