Birdie blitz puts Bickerton into lead

England’s John Bickerton fell just one short of equalling the course record as he posted an eight-under-par 63 to lead the French Open by two strokes.

The Droitwich golfer came storming through a pack of players with five birdies in his final seven holes to overtake 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell, who minutes earlier had posted the clubhouse lead at six under.