Australian Brett Rumford shot a course record seven under par 64 to take the lead after the first round in the St Omer Open in France.

After winning the Australian Tour Players Championship as an amateur in 1999 Rumford finished a creditable 57th on the European Tour's Order of Merit in 2001 but then lost his card in 2002.

He reflected: "Last year was a tough one for me. My older brother Mitch stopped caddying for me and it was my first full year when I was dependent on myself and that took its toll."

With seven birdies and no bogeys to blemish his day Rumford's fortunes appear to have changed sharply.

Lying two shots off the pace are Cesar Monasterio of Argentina and Sweden's Mattias Eliasson.

Former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst is among a group of seven players in 12th place five shots behind Rumford.

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