GRAEME Storm is currently tied for fourth place after carding an impressive 69 in the opening round of the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.

The Hartlepool golfer, who is closing in on a place in the World Matchplay Championships at Wentworth, is three shots off the lead currently being held by Welshman Bradley Dredge.

Teeing off his round at the tenth, Storm made a rocky start as he bogeyed the par-four 12th.

But birdies at 15 and 17 took him to one-under at the turn, and a third birdie at the first enabled him to finish at two-under par.

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