Chris Gane holds a one-shot lead following the opening day of the Madeira Islands Open at Porto Santo Golfe.
The 36-year-old Englishman produced a stellar five-under-par 67 in windy conditions to end the day just ahead of Frenchman Francois Delamontagne and Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman.
Gane opened with four successive pars before picking up his first shot of the day at the par-three fifth, and he did not wait long to add a second birdie by completing the part-three seventh in two to make the turn at two under.
He stumbled with a bogey at the par-five 10th but recovered superbly with a birdie at the par-five 12th before a enjoying a run of successive birdies between 14 and 16 to sign for 67.
Delamontagne, meanwhile, endured a mixed bag as he made two eagles, four birdies and four bogeys in a round of 68, with his two eagles coming on his inward nine. Saltman joined him on four-under courtesy of six birdies and two bogeys on the par-72 course.
The pair hold a two-shot advantage over a chasing pack that includes home hope Manuel Quiros as well as Emanuele Canonica, Jose-Flilipe Lima, Fredrik Henge, Joakim Haeggman and Federico Colombo.
Defending champion James Morrison is well off the pace after a disappointing day that saw him shoot three birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey in a one-over-par 73.
