FRENCHMAN VICTOR DUBUISSON holds a two-shot lead at the Ballantine’s Championship in Icheon after the first day’s play.

The 22-year-old fired a four-under 68 oearlier at the Blackstone Golf Club in South Korea, giving him the early lead over a group of five players tied for second.

That pack comprises of English duo Paul Casey and Mark Foster, Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Scotsman Richie Ramsay and South Korean Ji-ho Jung. Dubuisson started with a birdie on the opening hole but a double-bogey on the fourth robbed him of some early momentum.

The overall leader quickly responded though, adding birdies on holes five and six and although he slipped up with a bogey on the 10th, he finished strongly. The Cannes-born golfer hit five birdies and one bogey from the remainder of his round to finish with an impressive 68.

Of the chasing pack, Ramsay looked the best with five birdies, but a double-bogey on the fifth cost him a chance of sharing the lead. World number 12 Adam Scott is one of 11 players tied for seventh, with the Aussie carding a one-under 71.

Joining Scott are the likes of South African George Coetzee, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Irishman Paul McGinley. Scott was the favourite to win the tournament — which would be his fifth success in Asia –- with Englishman Ian Poulter just behind him in the betting markets.

But Poulter struggled on the opening day, carding a three-over 75 after five bogeys

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