First-round leader John Bickerton maintained his position at the head of the French Open field but he came under pressure from Scotsman Gary Orr who made a superb charge earlier in the day.

Bickerton, eight under overnight, shot a one-under-par 70 to lead by one from Orr, whose 64 was the round of the day.

Bickerton was an afternoon starter and could only watch as Orr carved his way up the leaderboard in impressive style.

When he finally teed off, Bickerton knew exactly what he had to do to stay in front and he did exactly that.

A bogey at the first was not a good start but he holed a 30-footer at the short next and then one from three feet at the third.

A birdie at nine briefly took him to 10 under but he dropped a shot at the 12th, holed a 25-foot putt for birdie at the long 15th only to bogey the 17th.

Orr made everyone sit up and take notice after his exploits in the morning.

He began with a birdie at the third after hitting a sand wedge to four feet, before holing a 15-footer on the sixth and then chipping in from the edge of the green at the 450-yard seventh.

A good up and down from a bunker at the par-five ninth brought his fourth birdie of the day and after adding another at the 14th he sank a 30-foot putt at the short par-four 15th and then got up and down from a bunker on 18 to save par.

Padraig Harrington and Peter Lawrie lead the Irish challenge on three under respectively.  Gary Murphy is two shots further back while Paul McGinley is one over.

Damien McGrane, at three over, missed the cut by two shots while Grame McDowell (+4) and Michael Hoey (+8) will also have free weekends.

New Zealander Michael Campbell began the day two behind Bickerton and that is where he finished after he found the lake guarding the 18th green to finish with a one-under 70.

European number one David Howell missed his first cut on the European Tour since January 20 when he finished nine over par.

Seve Ballesteros, playing his first tournament since October, finished 20 over par and he was unhappy with the end of the round when he appeared to be closely monitored by a rules official, a suggestion denied by the European Tour.

"It was difficult to concentrate on the golf course, that is why I had high numbers," said the 49-year-old Spaniard, who plans to play in next month's Open at Hoylake. "It is the type of course if you lose your concentration it bites you quickly."