SAINT-QUENTIN (France), June 23: France’s Jean Van de Velde produced signs of recovery after a nightmare three years of injury when he equalled the new National course record 64 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead in the French Open.

Van de Velde’s seven-under-par in the first round came before a thunderstorm caused play to be abandoned at 1850 local.

He leads Britain’s Jonathan Lomas by a stroke and his battle for fitness following double knee surgery in 2002 looks to be gathering momentum.

Van de Velde, who will forever be known for losing the 1999 British Open by triple-bogeying the 72nd hole at Carnoustie, can still get his career on track but his major memories remain.

Van de Velde’s French Open entry is, like all his appearances now, by invitation, and he has given himself a target of the end of 2006 to get back on to the European Tour.

He can achieve that goal this week, even with a fifth place finish in a tournament that offers the biggest prize money in continental Europe.

Van de Velde’s problems began with a skiing accident that caused him his right knee reconstruction in July 2002. Six months later he needed further surgery.

After countless fitness regimes and three unsuccessful comebacks, Van de Velde, 39, gave himself a last chance this April when he returned to the fairways. Thursday’s 64 has given him hope his career is not over.

A Van de Velde victory, which would also qualify him for this year’s British Open, would mean a second successive French win after Jean-Francois Remesy ended a 35-year wait for a home champion last year.

First round scores:

64 - Jean Van de Velde (FRA)

65 - Jonathan Lomas (ENG)

67 - Anders Hansen (DEN), Richard Sterne (RSA), Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP), Francois Delamontagne (FRA)

68 - Martin Erlandsson (SWE), Andrew Marshall (ENG), Sam Little (ENG), Jean-Francois Remesy (FRA), Ricardo Gonzalez (ARG).—Agencies