French 21-year old Gregoire Schoeb took advantage of benign morning conditions to blast an incredible, 11 under par, course record 60 on the New Course to lead by four shots after the first round of the St Andrews Links Trophy.

The plus three handicapper from Strasbourg, ranked just 351st in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, had two eagles and seven birdies to top the leaderboard from Federico Zuchetti of Italy and Australia's Geoff Drakeford, who was joint second behind Gavin Moynihan in the Scottish Amateur Open last weekend.

Schoeb birdied the first, made an eagle two at the 367-yard second, birdied the par-five third, and then eagled the the 481-yard,  par-five eighth to turn in six under 30 before shooting 30 on the back nine with birdies at the par-five 12th, the 15th, 16th, the short 17th and the 18th.

The in-form Jack Hume of Naas, joint second on Sunday, carding a four under 67 to lead the 11-strong Irish contingent in joint ninth as world No 10 Moynihan had four birdies and four bogeys in a 71 to share 61st on level par with Balbriggan's Robbie Cannon, who played in the worst of the afternoon winds.

Ardee's Eugene Smith was one of the early leaders with a three under 68 but ended the day tied for 14th as West Waterford's Gary Hurley shot a two 69 for joint 24th.

Lucan's Richie O'Donovan's 70 was good enough for 46th on one under but it was an average day for the rest as the wind got up for the afternoon starters.

Cormac Sharvin, Reeve Whitson and Paul Dunne shot 72, Headfort's Rory McNamara a five over 76 and Ballymena's Dermot McElroy a disappointing 78.

Jamie Savage, the recent winner of the Irish Amateur Open shot a 65 to sit alone in fourth on six under.