Brilliant back nine gives England's David Horsey Russian Open lead

Chasing his first European Tour win in over three years, Horsey carded a seven-under-par 65 to head the leaderboard at the Tseleevo Golf and Polo Club on the outskirts of Moscow.

It was a faultless round from the world number 198, who holed five of his seven birdies on the back nine to end the day with a one-shot lead.

The Scottish pair of Scott Jamieson and Peter Whiteford are hot on his heels after they both finished on six under.

An eagle at the par-five eighth was the highlight of Jamieson's performance, while Whiteford would have ended his round in the lead if not for bogeys at holes seven and 11.

Horsey may possess the early advantage, but the fight for the title remains wide open with much of the field tightly bunched.

A total of eight players are two shots behind at five under, with pre-tournament favourite Rikard Karlberg in that group thanks in part to an eagle at the 15th.

By contrast Alexandre Kaleka's quest to go one better than his tied-second finish last year started in disappointing fashion.

The Frenchman headed to the turn at three over and, despite fighting his way back to level par, a double bogey at the last saw him finish at two over.

But Kaleka's performance paled in comparison to that of former tennis world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who sits at 11 over after the first 18 holes.

A two-time grand slam champion, Kafelnikov's disastrous round featured three double bogeys and just one birdie to leave him tied for 107th.