WORCESTERSHIRE'S John Bickerton and Jeremy Robinson both made steady starts to the Madeira Open yesterday.

Bickerton, the Droitwich Golf Club member, hit back well after an opening bogey and had consecutive birdies at the fifth, sixth and seventh holes.

But he lost momentum with bogey fives at the par four ninth and tenth, while one more birdie and a bogey left Bickerton on level par, six shots behind the leader.

Robinson joined Bickerton on par after a far less topsy-turvy round. Two birdies on the front nine by the Evesham golfer were matched by two bogeys on the run-in.

Hereford's David Park had a much tougher time and faces a battle to beat the half-way cut today after a disappointing 76 left him four over par. A double-bogey six at the opening hole set the tone for his disappointing round.

Another golfer hoping to beat the cut was five-time major winner Seve Ballesteros. The Spaniard made just three cuts last season and has already missed the cut in both of his events so far this year.

But he was ideally placed to end that poor streak today after carding an opening two-under-par 70 and a place inside the top 10.

Ballesteros even led the tournament at one stage after playing the front nine in three under par, but was eventually overtaken by Frenchman Olivier David carded a superb six-under-par 66 for a two-shot lead over compatriot Benoit Teilleria.