Michael Hoey of the Northern Ireland carded a first round of 67 at the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar on Friday to finish 4 under and is one shot better than fellow Northern Ireland player, Gareth Maybin, who signed for a 68.
Ricardo Gonzalez and former Open Championship winner Paul Lawrie share the first round lead with both players on seven under par after rounds of 64 at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo to hold a one shot lead over David Horsey of England.
Gonzalez birdied the third, fourth, fifth and eighth to turn in 32 before picking up shots on three consecutive holes from the 13th on the way in - the last of which came courtesy of a monster birdie putt.
Paul Lawrie is without a win since 2002, but picked up seven shots in nine holes from the fifth - including four in a row around the turn - as like Gonzalez he kept a blemish-free card.
At 68th on The Race to Dubai the Scot will be aware that a good finish this week could push him into the all-important top 60 in time for the Dubai World Championship next month.
"I putted lovely. I played solidly, I didn't play poorly, but I rolled the ball extremely well," Lawrie said. "The greens this week are some of the best we've seen all year and when the greens are fast and they roll well I tend to hole puts so I did that today.
BMW International Open winner Horsey turned in a one under 35 but burst to life with five birdies in his next seven holes, the highlight being a tee shot to six feet at the par three 16th.
France's Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Scot Gary Orr, BMW PGA Championship winner Simon Khan and his English compatriot Richard Finch share fourth overnight on five under.
Two of Spain's best were making a return to European Tour action, and Sergio Garcia carded a respectable level par round on his home course. But his playing partner José Maria Olazábal will have work to do if he is to make the cut on his return from injury after a two over par 73.
Shane Lowry finished on 2 under par after an opening round of 69.
Peter Lawrie was one over par after carding a 72.
Paul McGinley was two shots further adrift after a round of 74.
Simon Thornton looks under pressure - after opening with bogeys on the first two holes - finishing on four over par after signing for a 75.
Damien McGrane is also facing an uphill struggle after a round of 76 with double bogeys on holes 16 and 18.
But the misfortunes of last week at the Portugal Masters – where he went into the water on the last to lose the event to Richard Green - continue for Pablo Martin of Spain after a round of 80 leaves him 9 over par on day one.
