Russell and Dear off to good start in France

Raymond Russell and Gavin Dear made solid starts to the Finale Allianz de Barbaroux at Barbaroux Golf Club in France. Russell, who last week won himself a place on the 2011 European Tour, shot a two-under-par 70 to be to be lying sixth behind five Frenchman.

Russell birdied the third, 14th, 15th and 17th but bogeyed the 13th and 18th in halves of 34 and 36.
Dear went out in 35 and back in 36 in a scorecard that showed only three deviations from par - birdies at the par-5 third and 17th and a single bogey at the 13th.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
Players from France unless stated
68 Alexandre Kaleka, Alan Bihan, Julien Guerrier.
69 Victor Dubuisson, Edouard Dubois.
70 Agus Domingo (Spain), Raymond Russell (Scotland), Victor Rui.
Other scores:
71 (jt 9th) Gavin Dear (Scotland).
72 (jt 17th) Matthew Cryer (England).
75 (jt 34th) Matthew Baldwin (England).
76 (jt 38th) Sam Robinson (England), Jason Palmer (England).
78 (jt 47th) Farren Keenan (England).