Pictured following his maiden win in the Gosser Open last year, Brendan McCarroll is chasing another victory in France this week. Brendan McCarroll made a fast start in the Alps Tour’s €40,000 Open International de Rebetz with a three under 70 leaving him just two shots off the lead.

The Ballyliffin man made an eagle two, four birdies and three bogeys at Domaine de Rebetz in Chaumont-en-Vexin north of Paris to share sixth place behind leaders Julien Foret and Fabien Marty of France and Spaniard Jesus Legarrea. Scores

McCarroll holed out from 110 metres for eagle at the par-four 17th, his eighth.

“It was a bit of a bonus there on 17,” McCarroll said. “It’s a green you never want to putt on as it’s so slopey. My pitch mark was about half a metre in front of the pin so I’m guessing it jumped forward and then spun back off the slope.”

McCarroll won twice on the satellite tour last year but finished seventh in the money list, just outside the top five who earned promotion to the European Challenge Tour.

Former professional footballer Stephen Grant is tied for 13th after a fighting two under 71.

The Birr native made three bogeys and an early birdie to slip to two over with eight to play before hitting back with four birdies in his next seven holes to get right back into the tournament.

Banbridge’s Richard Kilpatrick had a tougher day at the office, mixing three birdies and six bogeys in a three over 76 that left him tied for 76th.