Finland
France hold the top two positions after the opening round of the European Amateur Championship in Finland.
Lev Grinberg set the tone among the early starters at Linna Golf, fighting through a spell of rain on the front nine, which triggered a short suspension of play, before going on to card six birdies and a bogey-free 65. It proved enough to keep him out in front, and he ended the day as the outright leader with one of his compatriots chasing close behind.
That compatriot is Arthur Carlier, who matched Grinberg's clean card with the only other bogey-free round of the day. A birdie at the last lifted him to -5 and into a share of second place. Alongside him sits England's Sebastian Desoisa, who finished in style late into the evening, rolling in birdies on each of his closing four holes to join Carlier at -5.
Behind the leading trio, five players are tied for fourth at -4. France's Louis Anceaux added to his country's strong showing, while Australia's Kayun Mudadana and South Africa's Jack Buchanan both made the most of a strong finish to climb into the group. They are joined by Sweden's Erik Tjärnberg and Nevill Ruiter of the Netherlands.
With the top of the leaderboard still tightly bunched, and 34 players within just four shots of the lead, there is little to separate those in contention heading into Round 2.
