Antoine Rozner hailed possibly "the best day of my career" as he and Frederic Lacroix provided some French cheer on Moving Day at the 2025 Open de France.
Lacroix, one of the earliest starters having made the cut on the line at level par, gave the first evidence of the scores available at a wet Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche with a 65.
Rozner ended the day one shot ahead of his fellow Parisian at seven under after a 66 capped by holing from a bunker to birdie the 18th.
"Yeah, very good day," said Rozner. "I think I was exceptional on the greens. It’s really not far from being the best day of my career, honestly.
"I saved shots when I had to, I scored when I had to. Really, very, very happy with this day. I couldn’t have made a better score than that.
"Yeah, two huge bunker shots to finish on 17 and 18. The one on 18 was incredible. I was lined up well, of course, but I really saw it turn at the last moment to drop in.
"And then there was a crazy crowd, so it was a very, very special moment, one I’ll remember for a long time."
Lacroix went out in 30 with six birdies including five in a row from the fifth.
He holed from 21 feet at the 13th and also birdied the 16th and though he dropped shots at the last two holes, a 65 left him in the mix at six under.
Asked 'what happened out there?', though, he replied: "No idea. I just tried to play some golf, just to get one shot after the other. And, yeah, it was just a good day.
"Putting was good today. I was struggling on the greens for the last few tournaments now. I don't know, maybe less expectations today and I just rolled the thing quite nicely, made some really good ones.
"It's always nice to perform at home. I was struggling the first two days but, yes, super happy to be in the mix for tomorrow."
The pair's fine displays came in persistent rain in the French capital and Rozner added: "Well, we’re Parisians, so we know the rain a little. Still, it’s a tricky challenge.
"I think we handled it well today. Fred played a great round too. So yeah, very happy with the day."
