TWO late bogeys dampened a wonderful start for John Parry at the Omega European Masters.

The Knaresborough-born European Tour golf ace recorded a three-under-par 67 on the opening day at the Crans-sur-Sierre course in Switzerland.

It was a result which saw him remain in contention for the 450,000 euros first prize among the early starters at Crans Montana – but it could have been even better.

Parry carded a three-under front nine of 32 with birdies at the first, sixth and ninth holes and no dropped shots.

He picked up further strokes at the 11th and 13th, in between his first bogey of the day at 12, and when he birdied the par-five 15th, he was at the top of the leaderboard.

Dropped shots at both 16 and 17 calmed his challenge but, on a day which saw play suspended for an hour and a half because of fog, Parry – who has missed his last three cuts on the European Tour – could still reflect on a fine start.