Shane Lowry recovered from a slow start to sit just outside the top 10 following his first round at the Open de Espana in Madrid.
Starting on the 10th tee, the recent Irish Open champion was one-over par after his first four holes after finding the right rough for bogey at the 13th, but he had two birdies over his next three holes to move back under par.
Lowry went right again on the third for another dropped shot but again responded well with a birdie at the next after a fine bunker approach.
His third birdie on a par-five followed on seven before he gave that up at the next as he started off with a one under par 70.
Tom McKibbin – also starting on the 10th – made a fast start before coming unstuck after the turn.
A superb approach at the 12th nearly resulted in an eagle with further birdies at the 14th and 15th after more brilliant iron play.
There had been a bogey in there at the 13th after his tee shot leaked right while he missed a short par putt on the 17th.
McKibbin’s front nine started with back-to-back bogeys with another at the fifth on the back of a birdie at the par-five fourth.
That left the Co Down man on one over par and just outside the top 50 with play continuing at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
With the afternoon wave still with plenty of golf to play, the clubhouse lead belonged to a home favourite as Madrid’s Eugenio Chacarra sat at four under par with his card featuring two eagles.
His nearest challenger in the clubhouse was another Spaniard, Angel Ayora, who is on four under par.