Matteo Manassero launched his defence of the Castelló Masters with a hat-trick of birdies in Spain.
The 18 year old Italian's victory last year made him the youngest winner in European Tour history and he added the Maybank Malaysian Open in April during an incredible rise into the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Colin Montgomerie is among those predicting a Ryder Cup debut for Manassero next September - he would take over from Sergio Garcia as the youngest to play in the match should he make the European Tem - and his start this morning gave him a one stroke lead over Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen.
Cabrera-Bello finished runner-up in the Portugal Masters on Sunday behind 20 year old Tom Lewis and the new English star, winning in just his third professional tournament, was paired with Manassero and Garcia for the first two rounds in Castellon.
Teeing off on the back nine Lewis birdied the 11th, but bogeyed the next, while Garcia, playing on his home course and winner three years ago, began with three pars.
Manassero made it four birdies in a row on the long 13th, but two holes later ran up a double-bogey six and the lead was taken by French rookie Romain Wattel after he closed the front nine with three birdies in four holes to stand three under.
Garcia and Lewis both bogeyed the 14th to be one over and Lewis then dropped a further stroke at the 503 yard par four 17th.
