JEREMY Robinson made a storming start at Slaley Hall today as he raced to the turn in just 32 shots to take an early lead at the Great North Open.

However, the Evesham golfer's birdie blitz was followed by a brace of bogeys at the opening two holes of his inward nine as he fell back to two under par - one shot adrift of playing partner Iain Pyman.

The latter suffered even more than Robinson during the second half of his round and finished two over - four strokes behind the Evesham player.

A birdie at the last was some comfort to Robinson after he saw shots slip by at the first, second, seventh and eighth but he will be well pleased with his morning's work and a share of the clubhouse lead alongside amateur Neal Dougherty.

Robinson was on the tenth tee at 7.45pm and made immediate inroads into the par 72 Northumberland course as he looked to continue the form that brought him around £16,000 from the last two events on the European Tour.

A four at the par five 12th was followed by a trio of birdies at 14, 15 and 16 but he threatened to spoil his marvellous start immediately after the turn.

However, six birdies in an opening round of 70 was a fine effort by a player not even on the full Tour schedule.

The event - previously known as the Compaq European Grand Prix - boasts an additional £150,000 in prize money this year with the winner picking up £133,330.