R1 LEADERBOARD (GB&I unless stated) -6 M Brier (Aus) -5 J Benedetti (Col), S Struver (Ger), S Dyson, O Whiteley -4 A Forsyth, G Bourdy (Fra), David Higgins, C Montgomerie, I Garbutt, MA Jiminez (Spa), B Barham

Montgomerie, who came fourth at last week's Wales Open, carded a four-under round of 67 to lie in a tie for sixth.

Home favourite Markus Brier leads after a 65, which included a hole in one at the 11th.

A group of four are one shot behind, including Englishmen Simon Dyson and Oliver Whiteley.

Seven players, including Montgomerie and his fellow Scot Alastair Forsyth, are a further shot behind.

Also in that group are English players Benn Barham and Ian Garbutt and Irishman David Higgins.

Montgomerie dropped just one shot - three-putting at the 13th (his fourth hole of the day) - and followed up with five birdies.

"My fifth score in the 60s in a row and I'm delighted," he said afterwards.

"It was five scores in the 70s a month ago and I had a very poor March to May but my confidence is flooding back.

"There is a great chance for me to win now. Hopefully I can take it," said the 42-year-old.

There is a great chance for me to win now - hopefully I can take it Colin Montgomerie

Ireland's Paul McGinley, playing with Montgomerie, finished with a level-par 71, a mixed round featuring three birdies and three bogeys.

Dyson had four birdies on his front nine of 32, dropping a shot at the 5th, and picked up two further shots at the 15th and 16th.

"It is feeling good at the minute. There is no reason why I can't keep putting scores together like I am doing," said the 28-year-old, who won his maiden European Tour title at the Indonesian Open in March.

Alongside Dyson on five-under is fellow Yorkshireman Whiteley, who has made just three cuts this season.

"I've had a bad few weeks so I wasn't expecting a great deal but then I just holed a few putts which made the difference," said the 28-year-old.