Max Kennedy carded a course-record 60 at Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André to open up a four-shot lead after day one of the Blot Play9.
The Irishman made two eagles and six birdies in his career-low round to reach ten under par and move four clear of two-time DP World Tour winner James Morrison.
The 23-year-old, starting from the tenth, made the perfect birdie-eagle-birdie start to his opening round, before adding further gains at the 15th and 18th to turn in 29.
Kennedy birdied the first and fifth holes before a second eagle of the day at the par-five seventh meant he was firmly on 59 watch, needing one birdie with two holes remaining.
He was unable to make a birdie but a brilliant up and down to save par on the ninth - his final hole - ensured he kept his card clean.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “It was a very nice round, I didn’t miss a lot of shots and it was great to make a good par save on the last. It would have been nice to give myself a chance on the last for 59 but still I will take a 60.
“I started on ten and made a nice birdie there. I hit driver, six-iron to eleven and made a 45-footer for eagle that was pretty good. On the seventh, my 16th, I hit three-wood, four-iron to 20-feet and made a nice putt there too for eagle.
“I never try to attack pins I try to play conservative but sometimes you pull or push it towards a hole, and you know it’s your day.
“I hit it pretty well today from tee to green and gave myself a lot of chances, so I was happy with that.”
Kennedy arrived in Brittany full of confidence having recorded his season best 11th placed finish at the Raiffeisenbank Golf Challenge last week and he believes the layout at Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André is well suited to his strategic approach.
“I was very confident coming into the week because I had my best finish last week in Czech so my game is heading in the right direction,” he said. “I feel really comfortable with where I’m at.
“You can be conservative or aggressive on this course. I’m more of an aggressive player off the tee and I left myself a lot of wedges and gave myself a lot of chances.”
Norwegian Baard Skogen sits in third position on five under par, while Ireland’s Mark Power and Belgian Matthis Besard are a shot further back in fourth.
The second round of the Blot Play9 will get under way at 7:50am local time, with Kennedy teeing it up alongside Spaniard Borja Virto and Frenchman Edgar Catherine at 2:10pm
