YORK’S Simon Dyson engaged a higher gear to post a challenging score in the first round of the BMW International Open.

The world golf ranked number 48 switched on the power on the inward nine at the Gut Larchendof course in Cologne to be within the leading 20 ahead of today’s second round.

Dyson, who made his competitive return after a three-week absence resting a pelvic injury in the US Open Championship last week, started in Germany with a dropped shot on the first hole.

Another one followed on the fourth, but he got back to level with birdies on the third and sixth holes.

But Dyson cruised through the inward nine, birdying four of the last six holes to finish on four-under, four shots shy of joint leaders Marcus Fraser and Fabrizio Zanotti.