Jamie Elson continued his impressive start to the 2011 Race to Dubai by reaching the turn four under par at the Open de Andalucía de Golf by Turkish Airlines.
The Englishman, who qualified for the event courtesy of his fifth-place finish in Sicily on Monday, completed the front nine in 30 strokes to claim an early lead in Malaga.
After bogeying the second, Elson responded with a birdie at the next and four consecutive gains from the fifth saw him lead by one from compatriot Mark Foster, Dutchman Maarten Lafeber, Scots Paul Lawrie and Colin Montgomerie and Swedish duo Christian Nilsson and Michael Jonzon.
Elson, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Wednesday, does not have a full exemption category after finishing 132nd on last year's Race to Dubai, but the Sicilian Open was his second top-five finish already this year after he finished fourth at the Joburg Open.
Former Ryder Cup Captain Montgomerie is still seeking a first top-ten finish since 2008, but was in contention last week until illness checked his progress over the weekend.
However, he continued to show signs of improvement since his triumphant leadership of The European Team at The Celtic Manor Resort in October by mixing four birdies with one dropped shot in his first eight holes.
