Thornton makes fine start in France

Golf round-up:Simon Thornton got his quest for Challenge Tour glory off to a decent start in the south of France when an opening five-under-par 66 left him inside the top 10 after the first round of the Golf Open Grand Toulouse.

The 34-year-old Irishman produced a flawless card at Golf de Toulouse-Seilh with five birdies and no dropped shots to lie four shots adrift of leader Christophe Brazillier of France who posted a new course record 62.

Starting on the back nine Thornton, who is currently in 25th place on the rankings and within touching distance of the top 20 who will gain their playing privileges for the 2012 European Tour at the end of the season, immediately made an impact with a birdie two at the tenth.

Further birdies followed at the 13th and 15th to see him out in 33 and he matched the figures coming home with birdies at the first and seventh holes.

Five men shared second place including Walker Cup hero James Byrne who got his professional golfing life off to an excellent start.

The 22 year old Scot - who returned two points out of three at Royal Aberdeen two weeks ago as Britain and Ireland beat the United States 14-12 - posted a six-under-par 65.

Indeed, had Byrne not dropped a shot at the last after finding water from the tee he would have held second place outright, but a brave 15 footer for bogey four enabled him to share that position with Denmark’s Lasse Jensen, England’s Ben Parker, Norway’s Espen Kofstad and Robin Wingardh of Sweden.

Niall Kearney shot a two-under 69, with Colm Moriarty was on level par after a 71.

Irishman Des Smyth lies three shots off the pace after a three-under-par 69 in the opening round of the Cannes Mougins Masters.

Smyth recovered from a bogey on the first hole to fire four birdies and an eagle three on the eighth hole before dropping another shot on the ninth to reach the turn in four-under 32.

Back-to-back bogeys stalled his momentum on the 12th and 13th but another birdie on the 16th saw him keep his playing partner Mike Harwood and fellow joint leaders Marc Farry and Bruce Vaughan in his sights.

Harwood fired four birdies and also eagled the eighth hole en route to his opening 66, while Farry matched that total with five birdies and an eagle on the 14th hole as he made a strong start to the defence of his title.

Former Senior British Open champion Vaughan then joined them at the top of the leaderboard when he birdied the last hole, having been invited to play in the event by co-organiser Farry.

Denis O’Sullivan was well down the field after opening with a three-over 75.