GRAEME STORM delivered the perfect start at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland – and has his sights on the lead going in to the second round.

The Hartlepool golfer, desperate for a good result to boost his chances of retaining his European Tour card, shot a six-under 64 at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans Montana.

Storm made eight birdies on day one, including finishing with four on his last six holes, to climb the ladder. He is likely to have been joint leader at the end of day one had he not bogeyed the eighth and 12th.

He was the tied clubhouse leader along with Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood at the end of his opening 18 holes.

But then Scotland’s Richie Ramsey turned on the style on the afternoon to go two better to post an eight-under 62 and he was joined by Italian Edoardo Molinari shortly after.

Storm said: “It was nice to be at the top of the leaderboard, it was a nice start. The conditions were perfect, the course played nice, even though the wind swirled around a bit. I hit the ball lovely all the way around and I holed a few putts, which I have been struggling with all year.

“I’m last off (2.40pm) on Friday, so it will be a lot different. The greens can be a lot different later in the day, so we will see how it goes. Hopefully I can play as well as I have in the first round. What a place it is to be at to play golf, it’s nice to be able to hit a bad shot and then have something to look at.”